Tips for Working Holiday Makers from WorldNomads.comHelpful information by World Nomads to keep you travelling safely.http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/
Tue, 3 Mar 2015 22:38:45 GMTWorld Nomads AdventuresWork, Stay, and Play in Cambodia<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/3395087300_6ecdfe1c45_z.jpg" /></p>
<p><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianhaugen/3395087300/">christianhaugen</a></i></p><p><i>This article is brought to you by <b>Ingrid Chang</b>, Team Member at <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/">Go Overseas</a>.</i></p><p align="baseline">Because Cambodia is between Vietnam and Thailand, it is often overshadowed in terms of tourism. With its <b>deep history and unique locations</b>, Cambodia offers more than what you see on at a glance. Possible activities range from cycling, exploring the culture, relaxing at the beaches, and trying underrated Cambodian dishes. </p><p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/3025542815_fcb6888304_z.jpg" /></p><p><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtinamilan/3025542815/">xtinamilan</a></i></p><h4>Work</h4><p>Before going to any country, remember to <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroad/preparing-study-abroad">plan ahead</a> and look at visa procedures. Cambodia allows travellers to apply for a visa online. A tourist visa allows up to a one-month stay. Other options are business or diplomatic visas which allows up to a three-month stay. Contact the nearest Cambodian Embassy for more options. </p><p><b>The most rewarding job for foreigners is teaching English especially if you are new to the culture and to the country.</b> There are various programs for <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-in-cambodia">teaching in Cambodia</a> but usually for every job a <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-abroad-blog/guide-tefl-certification/2477">TEFL TESOL certification</a> is required. Before you arrive at Cambodia, you can also look into local NGO’s and international <a href="http://www.go-volunteerabroad.com/volunteer-in-cambodia">volunteer organizations in Cambodia</a> that are looking for volunteers. </p><h4>Play</h4><p align="baseline">The two most visited cities in Cambodia are <b>Siem Reap and Phnom Penh</b>. Everyone talks about the <b>Angkor Wat Temple</b> before and after they visit Siem Reap. This temple is a must-see especially with its beautiful views and historical value. </p><p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/Angkor_Wat.jpg" /></p><p><i>Angkor Wat</i></p><p align="baseline"><b>Gondola boats</b> are good ways of relaxing a bit before heading to the next stop. Siem Reap also has businesses that offer automobiles so tourists can drive through their desired visits in the countryside and wildlife. <b>Don’t forget to stop by the Old Market in Siem Reap for a full experience of Cambodian life. </b>From Siem Reap you can take another boat up down to the capital, Phnom Penh. </p><p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/Siem_Reap_Cambodia.jpg" /></p><p><i>Siem Reap</i></p><p><b>Phnom Penh</b> is the home of the killing fields and the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum which can be sensitive and shocking areas but both are good for people to learn about the hardships that the Cambodian people have gone through. In Phnom Penh, cyclo centres which are inexpensive methods of transportation also offer quick tours. Lastly, <b>to relax, go down to the city of Sihanoukville to take various boats that take you to Koh Rong for the nice beaches. </b></p><h4>Stay </h4><p>There are a lot of hotels in Cambodia but if you are looking into <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroad/cambodia">studying abroad</a> through a program you can also stay with host families. Cambodia has a wide variety of living areas such as top-notch hotels or more affordable hostels. The top cities to stay at are Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Battambang. Siem Reap and Battambang are at the north of the country while Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh are at the south. </p><p align="baseline"><b>Compared to Battmabang and Sihanoukville, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh can be more lively at night.</b> Phnom Penh is the largest city in Cambodia and also has the largest population so if you are looking for somewhere urban Siem Reap and Phnom Penh would be better places to stay. In general there is a bit of rainy weather starting the month of April.</p><p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/4195428096_230c01a553.jpg" /></p><p><i>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/christophrooms/4195428096/">christophrooms</a></i></p><p><b>Related articles</b></p><p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/86819/Chile/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-Chile">Work, Stay and Play in Chile</a></p><p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/travel-tips/story/27158/Cambodia/WorldNomadscom-Travel-Tip-Cambodian-Som-Pas">Travel Tip - Cambodian Som Pas</a></p><p /><h4>About the Author</h4><p><b>Ingrid Chang </b>has travelled to Asia multiple times and is a fan of travelling abroad. <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/">Go Overseas</a><span> </span><span>lists every volunteer, study, teach and intern abroad program in the world, with alumni Yelp style ratings, reviews and more. Check out the Teach Abroad section of Go Overseas,</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoOverseas">Go Overseas on Facebook</a><span>, and follow</span><span> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/GoTeachAbroad">@Goteachabroad</a><span> </span><span>on Twitter.</span></p><div><h4><span><b>About </b><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b>WorldNomads.com</b></a></span></h4><p class="p2"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/">WorldNomads.com</a></span> keeps you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx">Travel Insurance</a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/">travel safety advice</a>. Learn how to flirt in over 25 languages with our <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides">free language guides</a> and have an experience of a lifetime on a <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships">travel scholarship</a>. We'll also help you share your journey with a <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx">free travel blog</a>, get <a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/">answers</a> from other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8">Ask A Nomad' iPad</a> app) and donate to a <a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/">local community development project</a> through our Footprints program. </p><p class="p3"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/">WorldNomads.com</a></span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</p></div><p /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/87530/Cambodia/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-Cambodia
TravelCambodiaworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/87530/Cambodia/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-Cambodia#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/87530/Cambodia/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-CambodiaThu, 17 May 2012 05:04:00 GMT1Work, Stay, and Play in Chile<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/6961767721_f562cfc06a.jpg" /></p>
<p><i>Explore Easter Island - Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldwide-souvenirs/6961767721/">worldwide-souvenirs</a></i></p><p><i></i>As the country that takes over most of South America, Chile offers limitless benefits for the well-rounded traveler:<b> beaches, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, welcoming natives, excellent wine, a romantic culture, and adventure. </b></p><p>Despite the fact that Chileans speak a highly unique dialect (Castellano de Chile) non-Spanish speakers will find the culture inviting and receptive. Many countries are exempt from having to get a tourist visa, but those wanting to stay longer will want to research rules and restrictions for staying in Chile. </p><h4>Work</h4><p>Before you arrive in Chile, you will need to apply for a work visa. If you have a spouse in Chile or already have a contract, you might be able to get a temporary permit. It's gotten increasingly more difficult to get a work permit in Chile, so it's worth your while to research other avenues, like teaching abroad.</p><p>Arguably one of the best ways to work in Chile is through the <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-in-chile/volunteer-teaching-chilean-education-ministry/258">English Opens Doors program</a>, a UN and Chilean Ministry of Education program that encourages people to <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-in-chile">teach English in Chile</a>. As a volunteer with the English Opens Doors program, you will receive room and board with a Chilean host family, 60,000 CLP for each month you complete, <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-abroad-blog/guide-tefl-certification/2477">TEFL certification</a>, health insurance, and an online Spanish class. You don't even have to pay to apply. </p><h4>Stay</h4><p align="baseline">Chile is a huge country, so the climates vary dramatically based on where you choose to live. For the most part, Southern Chile can be colder and wetter than the semi-desert climate of Northern Chile. The capital city, <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-in-santiago-chile">Santiago</a>, lies between the Andes and the Pacific; this is where most flights arrive and has numerous hostels, hotels, apartments, and homes to choose from. Other popular destinations include <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/internships-abroad/valparaiso-chile">Valparaiso</a>, a coastal city that has been called &quot;Little San Francisco,&quot; San Pedro de Atacama, Vina del Mar, Concepcion, and more. To find housing, research is best done via the internet. While hotels and apartments are great choices, opting to stay with a host family is a great idea if you truly want to immerse yourself in the culture. </p><p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/862384305_8416127f15.jpg" /></p><p><i>Santiago, Chile - Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickcoe/862384305/">patrickcoe</a></i></p><h4>Play</h4><p>Chile offers countless things to do with your free time, both in the cities and in the countryside. If you are in Santiago de Chile, hike around Cerro San Cristobal, a park on a hill, to see incredible views of the city during the day and enjoy the exciting nightlife in the evening. One of the most popular landmarks is Easter Island, a World Heritage Site. Following Easter Island, popular destinations include the <b>deserts, geysers, volcanoes, and skiing! </b></p><p>Food-wise, the seafood is especially delicious, especially the salmon; Chile is the second largest salmon producer in the world. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also bountiful in Chile. The wine is excellent as well, and wine tours provide the perfect day trip around the countryside. Ultimately, because Chile is so diverse in geography and climate, there are few recreational limits for someone working there!</p><p><b>Related articles</b></p><p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/OffTheBeatenPath/story/77543/Chile/Off-the-Beaten-Path-Patagonia-Chile">Off the Beaten Path: Chile</a></p><p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/story/72756/Chile/A-Healthy-Visit-to-Chile">A Healthy Visit to Chile</a></p><h4>About the Author</h4><p>This article is brought to you by <b>Madison Killen</b>, Teach Abroad Team Member at <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/">Go Overseas</a>. Madison is a novice traveler but hopes to teach abroad when she graduates. <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/">Go Overseas</a> lists every volunteer, study, teach and intern abroad program in the world, with alumni Yelp style ratings, reviews and more. Check out the Teach Abroad section of Go Overseas, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoOverseas">Go Overseas on Facebook</a>, and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/GoTeachAbroad">@Goteachabroad</a> on Twitter.</p><div>
<h4><span><b>About </b><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b>WorldNomads.com</b></a></span></h4>
<p class="p2"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/">WorldNomads.com</a></span> keeps you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a>. Learn how to flirt in over 25 languages with our <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a> and have an experience of a lifetime on a <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a>. We'll also help you share your journey with a <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a>, get <a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a> from other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask A Nomad' iPad</span></a> app) and donate to a <a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a> through our Footprints program. </p>
<p class="p3"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/">WorldNomads.com</a></span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</p></div>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/86819/Chile/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-Chile
TravelChileworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/86819/Chile/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-Chile#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/86819/Chile/Work-Stay-and-Play-in-ChileTue, 1 May 2012 04:44:00 GMT0Expat Life: the Good, the Bad & the Adventure<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/expat.jpg" /></p>
<p /><p>
</p><p>The dreamer imagines expat life to be a new world full of possibilities and romance, where they will feed off of the hum of a new city and encounter excitement around every corner. The realist knows that the challenges of setting up life in another country, knowing no one and sorting through foreign bureaucracy will be a huge undertaking. So, take these two ideas, plop them smack dab in the middle of a new country, and here you find the expat.</p><p>Travelling and actually living abroad are two very different experiences. As a traveller, you never have to figure out how to set up a bank account, where to get the freshest produce or where to get your teeth cleaned. For those are the things of regular life, not life on the road. But if you choose to settle in somewhere for awhile you will eventually need to figure these things out.</p><p>For many expats, the misconception by family and friends at home is that you are free to frolic around your new town, carefree, on a long sabbatical from &quot;real life&quot;, when the reality is that you're going to work, folding your laundry and paying the bills too - just thousands of miles away. </p><p>To find out what life is actually like as an expat, we've asked a few of our friends to share the joys and the difficulties of life as an expat. </p><h4>What do you love about life as an expat?</h4><p><b>Every day is a new adventure</b> when there's a language barrier to be negotiated. Even when there isn't, you're still going to be seeing new things and learning from new experiences wherever your day might lead you. <i>– Chris Walker Bush, <a href="http://www.aussieontheroad.com/">Aussie on the Road</a></i></p><p>As an expat you really get the chance to <b>live by the rhythm of another country</b> – you commute, work, grocery shop, eat and drink with the locals. And if you do this long enough, they aren’t just “locals” anymore, but friends. As a traveller you usually don’t get this level of interaction, of understanding or of acceptance. When that happens, you belong there too; that country becomes more than just a stamp in the passport, an album of photos, and some beautiful memories – it becomes another place in the world to call home. <i>– Alicia Smith, <a href="www.worldnomads.com">WorldNomads.com</a></i><br /><b><br />I love the surprises</b> that come with living in Mexico. From mariachis singing in the food market, a campesino walking with a parrot on his shoulder or dodging fruit like mangoes and chico as they fall from the tree, every day offers a new and unexpected experience or flash of beauty. <i>– <a href="http://michelepeterson.com">Michele Petersen</a></i> <br /><br />I've lived in both Nice, France and Melbourne, Australia mostly because I love creating a routine: becoming a regular in a café, knowing the public transportation lines like the back of my hand, experimenting with local ingredients, <b>settling into a friendly circle of locals and fellow expats.</b> <i>– Christine Amorose, <a href="http://www.cestchristine.com/">C'est Christine</a></i></p><p>I really enjoyed living amongst the locals. Women and children in Vietnam would wave and practice their English with me. It's<b> the lovely local encounters </b>that make living abroad worth its many challenges. <i>– Marissa Toohey, <a href="http://thebubblebusterproject.com/">The Bubble Buster Project</a></i></p><h4>What are the difficulties of being an expat?</h4><p /><p>There's no avoiding homesickness. When you're out traveling and it's all
go-go-go, you might be able to avoid it. But expat life means a certain
amount of downtime and with that quiet time will inevitably come a
little sadness. It's also <b>hard to be away from your support network</b> when times are rough. <i>– Chris Walker Bush, <a href="http://www.aussieontheroad.com/">Aussie on the Road</a></i></p><p>In addition to <b>missing family back home</b>, I miss Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian and other ethnic cuisine. My hometown of Toronto is an incredibly diverse city so it's easy to pick up foods like Dodonis feta in Greektown or naan hot off the grill in Little India. Here (in Mexico), it's not so easy! <i>– <a href="http://michelepeterson.com/">Michele Petersen</a></i> <i></i><br /></p><p>I had trouble finding safe food during my first weeks living in Vietnam as I'm allergic to seafood! When it's tough to do something as basic as eat, everything seems difficult to manage. But it only took a couple of weeks to find some trusty vegetarian eateries and I managed to keep smiling by having fun while getting to know my new and intriguing surroundings. <i>– Marissa Toohey, <a href="http://thebubblebusterproject.com/">The Bubble Buster Project</a></i></p><p>In a certain respect, if you’ve haven’t grown up in a place, there are some things, <b>some references that you just won’t understand</b>. This is because you weren’t around to experience them with the rest of the country. That joke or story about “the big event of 1993”? Forget it.<i> – Scott Ward, <a href="www.worldnomads.com">WorldNomads.com</a></i><br /><br />My <b>&quot;fixed life envy&quot; </b>is the hardest part of being a constant expat: I'm never staying anywhere quite long enough to fully put down roots. I'd love to invest in beautiful things for the home and buy a puppy; instead, I get really good at detaching emotionally from objects and learning how to say goodbye, yet again. I also think that being an expat is a lot more exotic in theory than reality:<b> my friends at home think I'm constantly on vacation, but I'm really just working and grocery shopping on the other side of the globe.</b> <i>– Christine Amorose, <a href="http://www.cestchristine.com/">C'est Christine</a></i></p><p><b>Related Articles:</b></p><p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/77580/Worldwide/Career-or-Travel-How-To-Do-it-All">Career or Travel: How to Do it All</a></p><p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70122/Australia/How-I-Found-a-Job-and-Flat-Within-2-Weeks-of-Arriving-in-Sydney">How I Found a Job and a Flat Within 2 Weeks of Arriving in Sydney</a></p><p /><h4>Have you ever lived abroad? What did you love about it, and what were your struggles?</h4><h4><span><b>About </b><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b>WorldNomads.com</b></a></span></h4>
<p class="p2"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/">WorldNomads.com</a></span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a>. Learn how to flirt in over 25 languages with our <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a> and have an experience of a lifetime on a <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a>. We'll also help you share your journey with a <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a>, get <a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a> from other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask A Nomad' iPad</span></a> app) and donate to a <a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a> through our Footprints program. </p>
<p class="p3"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/">WorldNomads.com</a></span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</p><p />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/83981/Worldwide/Expat-Life-the-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Adventure
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/83981/Worldwide/Expat-Life-the-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Adventure#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/83981/Worldwide/Expat-Life-the-Good-the-Bad-and-the-AdventureWed, 21 Mar 2012 15:57:00 GMT1Working Holidays in France: Embracing the Work-Life Balance<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/christine2.jpg" /></p>
<span>My commute was a five-minute walk through
the narrow streets of <i>Vieux Nice</i>,
past <i>le boucher</i> and <i>le boulangerie</i>, winding under brightly-colored shutters and
sun-bleached laundry hung between buildings. My coworkers were a friendly mix:
an Australian who never stopped smiling and cracking bawdy jokes, a Brit who
left empty tea cups and wet Lipton tea bags in his wake, a German whose English
and French were as good as any native speaker. My staff meals were never
without a giant hunk of bread, and my after-work knock-off was usually a
nice-sized glass of white wine. </span>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>While living in France for seven months, I
waitressed and bartended at a gastronomic Irish pub in the heart of Old Nice in
addition to working as an assistant in a French cooking school that catered to
English-speaking tourists. My days off were spent suntanning on the local
beaches or sipping rose with friends on sun-soaked terraces: all in all, it was
the best work-life balance I’ve experienced thus far. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/christine1.jpg" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>If you want to actually work in
France—like, a real job with benefits and responsibilities—be prepared for some
red tape. The French are notorious for their red tape, and with a high
unemployment rate, they’re not too keen on hiring foreigners. Your French needs
to be near-perfect and you need to be willing to do a lot of paperwork and wait
in a lot of lines. It’s not for the faint of heart. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>However, if you just wanted to earn some
extra Euros while living in the world’s most visited country—for good
reason—hospitality or tourism are great options for short-term, casual
employment. It’s easiest in Paris or in the bigger cities along the French
Riviera, like Nice or Cannes. Because of its yacht port popular with British
boat owners, Antibes is another excellent option. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Working in France can be a bit tricky if
you don’t have European Union citizenship. As an American, I was able to get
around the regulations with a student visa that enabled me to work part-time
and the good luck to find bosses who were willing to pay me in cash. If you do
have European Union citizenship, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and
stores<span> </span>in Nice and the rest of the
French Riviera that cater to English-speaking tourists. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>And if you don’t speak any French, your
options will be sorely limited—although it’s not impossible. Most of the Irish
pubs in Nice had a “token French person” on staff: in other words, the rest of
the staff spoke English as their first language. Even if you aren’t fluent in
French to begin with, your “service French” will likely improve dramatically. </span></p>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>The work week in France is 35 hours, and
the standard paid vacation time is four weeks. Long lunches are accepted, and
even encouraged. Work-life balance is less of a buzzword in France, and more of
just how things are done. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/christine3.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/connectlocally/story/77296/France/A-Taste-of-France-Clafoutis">A Taste of France - Clafoutis</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/travel-tips/story/74127/France/Insiders-France-Exploring-Beyond-Paris">Insider's France: Exploring Beyond Paris</a></p>
<h4><b><span>About the Author</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Christine’s first trip to France was at age 11,
where she fell in love with pains aux chocolat, modern art and Galeries
Lafayette. She spent summers in Provence and Paris in high school and
university, and moved to Nice after graduation. Even though Christine is
currently living in Melbourne, Australia, she’s still a Francophile at heart.
Follow her adventures at </span><span><a href="http://www.cestchristine.com/"><span>C’est Christine</span></a></span><span> or
on </span><span><a href="http://twitter.com/camorose"><span>Twitter</span></a></span><span>.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span> and have
an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span>.
We'll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, get </span><span><a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a></span><span> from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '</span><span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask
A Nomad' iPad</span></a></span><span> app) and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through
our Footprints program. </span></p>
<span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/78488/France/Working-Holidays-in-France-Embracing-the-Work-Life-Balance
TravelFranceworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/78488/France/Working-Holidays-in-France-Embracing-the-Work-Life-Balance#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/78488/France/Working-Holidays-in-France-Embracing-the-Work-Life-BalanceTue, 18 Oct 2011 23:19:00 GMT1Career or Travel: How To Do it All<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/careerbreakMongolia.jpg" /></p>
<span>In our society retirement is the Holy
Grail.<span> </span>We work a lifetime to save
away money for retirement so we can FINALLY do all of the things we’ve been
waiting to do.<span> </span>Sounds perfect –
right?<span> </span>Not so fast; this ‘American
dream’ is quickly changing with each generation.<span> </span>As instant information and gratification become the
norm in our growing digital society, it is changing the way we look at our
careers.<span> </span>We no longer want to, or
are expected to, wait to go on safari or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro until we are 65.<span> </span>After all, we may not even have the ability
to do those things we have been waiting to do. This is when the idea of a
career break starts to pop into your mind.<span> </span></span>
<p><b><span>What
is a Career Break?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>A career break is a just that – a break.<span> </span>It can be from 3 months to 3 years, <span> </span>and solo or with your family in tow
(yes, really); anything goes!<span> </span>The <a href="http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/08/top-benefits-of-a-career-break/">benefits
to a career break are numerous.</a><span>
</span>Most importantly </span><span>getting away is essential
for effective thinking.<span> </span>Combine
your career break with travel and reap even more benefits.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Exposure to cultures that function
differently from our own – from language to social customs to public transport
– awakens the brain, alerting it to a much broader range of possibilities for
being, living, and making.</span></p>
<p><b><span>What
to do if you want to take a traveling career break?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The obvious answer is to do what you always
wanted to do and go see what you dreamed of seeing.<span> </span></span><span>Sometimes what you need is to grow your
experiences and develop skills outside of the workforce. <span> </span>That can be done thru travel, further
education, or longer term volunteering. The key is to get away…whatever your
away is.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Most people feel that including
volunteering or philanthropic work in your career break is a key to building
your skills and hire-ability when you return to the workforce.<span> </span></span></p>
<p><b><span>Returning
From Your Break </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>During your break start to look closely
at what you have learned and <span><span>how you can apply it to your career when you return</span></span>
.<span> </span>Consider how you can
confidently sell the experiences you gained via cover letters, on your resume,
and in interviews.<span> </span>One thing you
can expect is a traveling career breaker will stick out from other candidates;
you are memorable, you’ve done something unique and something most people only
dream of doing.<span> </span>Just make sure
that you are prepared to confidently speak about the ‘why’ and ‘what’ of your
break in terms that will benefit the company.<span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>As for me, my career break actually
took me in a completely new direction.<span>
</span>Once I got away from the cube, I realized I wanted to break out on my
own and really change the direction of my life.<span> </span>No more cubes for me!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75459/Worldwide/Know-Before-You-Go-Professional-Working-Holidays">Know Before You Go: Professional Working Holidays</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76139/Worldwide/10-Reasons-Why-Taking-a-Working-Holiday-is-a-Good-Idea">10 Reasons Why Taking a Working Holiday is a Good Idea</a></p>
<h4><b><span>About Meet, Plan, Go!</span></b><span></span></h4>
<p><span><a href="http://www.meetplango.com/"><span>Meet,
Plan, Go!</span></a></span><span> is leading the
career break movement in North America; encouraging and teaching others how to
travel the world and have it be beneficial to your career.<span> </span>They envision a world where the term
‘career break’ is a part of your overall career strategy.<span> </span></span><span>Their </span><span><a href="http://meetplango.com/basic-training/"><span>online career break class</span></a></span><span> provides instruction on what you need to do to leave
your cube and plan the trip of a lifetime within a supportive community<a name="_GoBack"></a>. Also, don’t miss Meet Plan Go’s annual </span><span><a href="http://meetplango.com/national-event/"><span>career break travel event</span></a></span><span> (held in cities across North America) that </span><span>introduce you to individuals who have fulfilled their own dreams of
traveling around the world, or are currently in the planning stages.</span><span><a href="http://www.meetplango.com/national-event"><span></span></a></span><span></span></p>
<p><span></span><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span></span></a></p><h4><span></span></h4>
<p><span><span>Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT who is now a long term travelers. blogger, and photographer. She’s a co-founder of </span></span><a href="http://www.meetplango.com/"><span><span>Meet Plan Go!</span></span><span></span></a><span><span> website and events which
offers career break travel inspiration, advice, and ‘training’. She also runs
an around the world travel blog writing about her travel and expat experiences
at </span></span><a href="http://ottsworld.com/"><span><span>Ottsworld</span></span><span></span></a><span><span>.<span> </span></span></span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span> and have
an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span>.
We'll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, get </span><span><a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a></span><span> from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '</span><span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask
A Nomad' iPad</span></a></span><span> app) and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through
our Footprints program. </span></p>
<span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/77580/Worldwide/Career-or-Travel-How-To-Do-it-All
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/77580/Worldwide/Career-or-Travel-How-To-Do-it-All#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/77580/Worldwide/Career-or-Travel-How-To-Do-it-AllTue, 27 Sep 2011 17:46:00 GMT0An Insiders Guide to Studying Abroad<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/bon_voyae.jpg" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So you’ve made one of the best choices possible: to study
abroad. Wonderful! You won’t regret it. I certainly haven’t. But what are the
next steps? What are the most important things to know when embarking on this remarkable endeavor? I'm an American girl in Sydney, so I have some wisdom to share on
the topic.</p><h3>Decisions, Decisions</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are two big decisions you need to make right away.
They’re really obvious, and sometimes go hand in hand with deciding to study
abroad in the first place: time and place. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where in the world do you want to go? If you’re like me, the
answer is everywhere. But unless you have limitless means, you’re going to have
to narrow it down.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I made this decision for the first time, I was 19 and
was afraid to go somewhere English wasn’t spoken. I also wanted the safety of
going through a university run program with other students from Nebraska. A
month-long summer program to Oxford University was perfect.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While there, I caught the bug. No, I’m not talking about
swine flu—-though I did get that too unfortunately—-I’m talking about the study
abroad bug. The symptoms include non-stop reading of travel guides, resenting
your monotonous home university, and going through withdrawal after not traveling
for months. I had to study abroad again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/29890/IMG_0952.jpg" /></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(Warning: studying
abroad may cause addiction to travel)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I knew I wanted to go for a semester abroad. But I still
couldn’t quite get my head around the idea of living for months in a place
where I didn’t understand the language. Where did I want to spend 5 months of
my life?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Australia. The most expensive place to study abroad that I
found, and according to my father, the farthest I could get from home. I would
know absolutely no one. But I didn’t care that it was impractical. It was the
only cure for the bug!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took two years of planning, and massive amounts of money,
but here I am, studying abroad in Sydney. But before I know it, I’ll be back
home, freezing in Nebraska’s winter. So I’m living life to the fullest while
I’m here. And that’s the most important piece of advice I can give.</p>
<h3>Take My Advice...</h3><p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal">When you study abroad, you learn to be independent. Without
friends or family, or the safety of the familiar, you have to get comfortable
in your own skin. You learn to adapt to new situations and roll with the
punches. It could just be the laidback Aussie style rubbing off on me, but it’s
important to say “no worries” when little things don’t go your way.<span> </span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/29890/IMG_0869.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>(It's too peaceful for worrying)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through trial and error, I've learned what to do when
getting ready to study abroad and what not to do during it. So after you decide time and place, there are a few things that are next on your to-do list.</p><h4>Do your research!</h4><p class="MsoNormal">There are so many program options and every one of them will be a little
different. If you want to go the easy way, like I did for my first trip, then
pick a program that your university organizes. They will iron out all the
details—-like what college you’re attending and what classes you’ll take—-and all
you have to do is pay for it!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’d like making the choices, then you can go through a
study abroad company where you have the freedom to choose what university and
academic program you want. A lot of the companies I looked at had similar
options, but each held their own appeal. Of course, the program fees for each
university, and for each study abroad company, varied.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the end, you have to look at all your options and narrow
them down by the ones who meet your main criteria, like price, classes, and
location. For me, having an international internship was a must, but I also
needed to keep it as cheap as possible. I went with Macquarie University, in
Sydney’s suburbs, for their fantastic internship program.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/29890/IMG_0964_medium.jpg" /></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(No regrets here!)</i></p>
<h4>Get all the dull
paperwork in order</h4><p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal">Trust me, there will be a lot of it. </p><p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal">Everyone needs a passport. This process is easy in the
states, simply taking a few photos and sending a form, but it can take months
to receive it. Get it sooner rather than later.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Depending on where you’re going, you may need a visa.
Australia requires a student visa, though it was easy to apply online. The only
painstaking part was paying for it!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re arranging your own program, then you’ll have to
fill out applications for the study abroad company, then for the host university,
and usually your home university will require an application as well.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve been accepted, you can get started on
registering your program with your home university and getting your subject
approval forms signed. You’ll have to fill out duplicate copies, one for each
university.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If your college is like mine, the International Affairs
office is overworked and understaffed, which means it can take weeks to get
things filed and approved. Start asap! </p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal">The paperwork can seem tedious and the process annoying, but it’s important to have all your ducks in a row before you leave the country. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/29890/IMG_0752_medium.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>(This isn't what your ducks should look like)</i></p><p>
</p><h4>Have money!</h4><p class="MsoNormal">There
is no way around it, studying abroad is an expensive endeavor. Don’t let that
discourage you; the experiences you gain are worth their weight in gold. I've
certainly never heard anyone say, “studying abroad was such a waste, I should
have put that money in my retirement fund instead.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Create a budget. Program fees will be the biggest chunk. But
don’t forget the daily expenses either. Like transportation, groceries, cell
phone bills and housing fees. It adds up, and there’s really nothing to do but
pay for it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You’ll also want money to spend on fun things while you’re
abroad. International work and study experience is priceless, but exciting
cultural experiences are a part of studying abroad too. I will never forget my
first time surfing or diving the Great Barrier Reef. And both of those
experiences cost me hefty amounts of Aussie dollars.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/29890/IMG_4949.jpg" /></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(Definitely worth the
money to find Nemo!)</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal">There’s money available. Apply for all the scholarships you possible can. Free money is worth the trouble of writing those essays. You might qualify for government grants, but you won’t know until you look.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Get a job, or several. Money is money whether you make it flipping burgers or dog walking. And every little bit helps! Take out a loan. My French teacher said the loan she had to take out to study abroad in France for a semester was the best decision of her life.</p><p class="MsoNormal">If you’re lucky, maybe you can take out a loan from the Bank of Dad. You generally get better interest rates.</p><p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal">And when you're studying abroad, use that hard-earned money! Eat the local food, try learning a new skill, go to a local sports event, travel to the country’s important places. Meet new people! You don’t want to stay home every night because you’re afraid to spend the money to go have fun.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/29890/IMG_0051.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>(Gorge yourself in the wonderful local food!)</i></p><p>
</p><h3>Ready, Set, Go!</h3><p class="MsoNormal">Now you know about doing your research, filing your
paperwork, and getting money in any way possible, short of breaking the law. There
are tons of other things to do before studying abroad, these are just what I
consider to be most important. But they’re not all you need to remember. Here
are five things to avoid when studying abroad.</p>
<h4>Do not, under any circumstances...</h4><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Look like a tourist</b>. Pick pocketing can happen to
anyone, anywhere. But don’t make yourself an easier target by walking around
with a map in front of your face or counting your money on the sidewalk. Do
like the locals do. Try and blend in.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Be stupid</b>. If you’re looking for a good time, keep
it legal. There’s no reason to break the law. It can have serious consequences,
from being fined to getting thrown in jail. It’s not worth it. Be smart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Study abroad with your best friends and only spend
time with them</b>. It defeats the purpose of studying abroad. You’re doing it
to experience NEW things, gain NEW knowledge, meet NEW people, and find out NEW
things about yourself. Distance yourself from the old.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spend all your time talking, texting, or skyping
people back home</b>. This is basically an extension of what I just said, but
c’mon people, you’re studying abroad. Your friends, family, and significant
other will be there when you go home. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have
occasional Skype dates. It’s a great way to let everyone back home know you’re
alive and well. But unless you distance yourself, you won’t get what you’re
looking for from studying abroad. Remember: experience the NEW.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Be close-minded</b>. If you refuse to try new
things, only want to eat your country’s type of food, can’t live without The
Jersey Shore and happen to be completely ethnocentric, then studying abroad
isn’t for you. Please don’t inflict this type of personality on innocent
foreign countries. Be open to learning about how other cultures live. If something
is different from how it is back home, it’s not wrong, it’s just different.
Like driving on the wrong side of the road; it’s not wrong, it’s just
different! Adapt. And learn to look both ways several times before crossing the
road.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i></i></p><h4>About The Author </h4><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Megan Kolarik is a university student with majors in International
Business and International Studies. She is from Nebraska, USA, and has
traveled to Europe and Australia on study abroad trips. She is currently
an editorial intern for World Nomads. Megan hopes to travel to every
country in the world someday. Even the dodgy ones.</i><br /><br /><span><h4>About WorldNomads</h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.worldnomads.com/index.aspx">WorldNomads.com</a><span> </span>keeps you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx">Travel Insurance</a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a target="_blank" href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/">travel safety advice</a>. Learn how to flirt in over 25 languages with our free<a target="_blank" href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"> language guides</a> and have an experience of a lifetime on a <a target="_blank" href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships">travel scholarship</a>. We'll also help you share your journey with a free <a target="_blank" href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx">travel blog</a>, get <a target="_blank" href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/">answers</a> from other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new <a target="_blank" href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8">'Ask A Nomad'</a> iPad app and donate to a local community development project through our <a target="_blank" href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/">Footprints</a> program. <br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.worldnomads.com/index.aspx"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.worldnomads.com/index.aspx">WorldNomads.com</a> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span></p></span></p>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76969/Australia/An-Insiders-Guide-to-Studying-Abroad
TravelAustraliaworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76969/Australia/An-Insiders-Guide-to-Studying-Abroad#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76969/Australia/An-Insiders-Guide-to-Studying-AbroadFri, 9 Sep 2011 04:21:00 GMT4Know Before You Go: Professional Working Holidays<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/workingabroad.jpg" /></p>
<span>Many of the millions of expats living and working overseas are
professionals who have packed up their extensive skills and taken them abroad
gaining invaluable career and life experience. They can be found working in
multinationals, aid agencies, government departments, NGOs, community
organisations or private practices. </span><span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span>The rest are likely to be fresh from school, fuelling their travels with
whatever jobs pay the bills. They can be found on the Canadian ski fields,
serving tapas in Ibiza, picking fruit in South America, teaching kids to
horseride in American summer camps, au pairing in France, or photocopying and
filing in London.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Helen Isbister from <a href="http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/">Career FAQs</a> share how both types of working holidays have their perks, but
the experiences they generate can be very different. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>If you are a vet, lawyer, journalist, engineer, doctor, nurse, teacher,
manager, banker, accountant, public servant or other professional getting a gig
might not be as easy as rocking up with a backpack and starting the same day.</span></p>
<h4><span>Qualifications</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The first thing you should do is suss out whether your qualifications
will be recognised in your chosen destination. Australian qualifications are
generally very well regarded globally, but you may need to do a bridging course
or apply for registration. </span></p>
<h4><span>Visas</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Next it's time to check out the visa situation. In many countries,
travellers under 30 are allowed to automatically apply for a working visa in
lots of countries, but don't despair if that age has come and gone. You can be
sponsored by a company to work for them regardless of your age if they are keen
to have you on staff. </span></p>
<h4><span>Research</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Don't wait until you rock up in Botswana with your prestigious law
degree under your arm before realising no one can understand a word you are
saying and you are virtually unemployable. Do your research on the political,
security, cultural and economic conditions of your target country. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>That said, if you work for a multinational, chances are you will
probably be able to use English regardless of where you are in the world. Also
don't be afraid to think outside the square – London may be the favourite
working-holiday destination for obvious reasons, but plenty of amazing
opportunities exist in less predictable destinations. </span></p>
<h4><span>Transfers</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>If you work for a multinational company at home, then applying for a
transfer to one of their other offices can be a fabulous career move. You will
be gaining experience in your field, receive transport and housing assistance,
and have a job to come home to at the end of your international stint. </span></p>
<h4><span>Government</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Some government departments also have solid opportunities for
international work. For example, The Department of Foreign Affairs offers
overseas employment in Australia's international posts within embassies,
consulates and high commissions. Federal and state bodies such as tourism and
trade, security, policing and armed forces also provide good opportunities to
work and play overseas. </span></p>
<h4><span>Aid Work</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Aid work is a great way to see the world while also making a difference.
There are lots of different roles in almost any country you can think of.
Engineers, agronomists, environmentalists, logisticians, linguists, and medical
professionals are always in high demand because of their highly technical
knowledge, but it's also very competitive so be ready to dazzle with your
qualifications and experience. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>You might choose to apply for many international jobs before you leave home,
making the transition a lot smoother. This also may be a necessity if you are
unable to apply for a working visa and need to be sponsored before leaving. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>However, if you want to work in a smaller organisation or private
practice it might be easier to begin the job hunt once you have arrived. Adopt
the same job-hunting strategy as you would back home – sign up to employment
agencies and scour newspapers and online job sites. Also be sure that you have
budgeted enough to be able to eat and house yourself until you find a job. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When it comes to taking your profession global, the world is your
oyster. If you do your research you could take your career almost anyway in the
world, and have a blast doing it! </span></p><p><b>Related Articles: </b></p>
<p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70122/Australia/How-I-Found-a-Job-and-Flat-Within-2-Weeks-of-Arriving-in-Sydney">How I Found a Job &amp; Flat Within 2 Weeks of Arriving in Sydney</a></p>
<p><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67731/USA/Its-not-better-or-worse-its-just-different">It's not better or worse, it's just different.</a></p>
<h4>About <a href="www.careerfaqs.com.au">Career FAQS</a><br />
</h4><p>
With over 600 courses from 11 leading Australian
distance education providers including Open Universities Australia, The
Australian Institute of Applied Sciences and SEEK Learning, Career FAQs
is the leading authority and source for Australian courses, resumes,
cover letters and other quality career resources. Today, over 400,000
visitors per month get their education and career information from <a href="www.careerfaqs.com.au">Career FAQs</a>. </p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span> and have
an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span>.
We'll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, get </span><span><a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a></span><span> from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '</span><span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask
A Nomad' iPad</span></a></span><span> app) and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through
our Footprints program. </span></p>
<span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span><span></span><p class="MsoNormal" />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75459/Worldwide/Know-Before-You-Go-Professional-Working-Holidays
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75459/Worldwide/Know-Before-You-Go-Professional-Working-Holidays#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75459/Worldwide/Know-Before-You-Go-Professional-Working-HolidaysTue, 30 Aug 2011 16:27:00 GMT0Taking a Gap Year: 5 Ideas for First Timers<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/gapyear.jpg" /></p>
<span>Taking a year off after school to embark on an international escapade is
a fantastic way to throw off the cobwebs before leaping into a career or more
study. Whether you decide to spend the time working, volunteering or just
exploring, a gap year is a fantastic way to gain maturity, experience and
independence.</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>While a gap year is mostly about having a good time, it can also
increase your chances of career success. Having one on your resume demonstrates
lots of desirable life skills and most employers would prefer to hire people
who know a bit more about the world than what they’ve read in a text book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The saying ‘the world is your oyster’ is never truer
than right now, so take a deep breath, think outside the square and jump in! Our friend </span><span>Helen Isbister at <a href="http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/">Career FAQS</a> shares some ideas for first-timers.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>1.) Volunteering </span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Volunteering allows you to be more than just a tourist. It will take you
behind the scenes and up close with cultures, people and languages – all while
you make a positive difference in the world. You can become involved in a huge
variety of projects in nearly every country in the world. Depending on your
skills and interests, you might choose to help out in teaching, care,
community, conservation, media or construction. Who knows?! You could find
yourself saving sea turtles in Costa Rica, teaching children in Cambodia,
working with orphans in Cape Town, or building wells in Ghana. </span></p>
<h4><b><span>2.) Working holiday </span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The traditional gap year is to take a working holiday overseas. It kills
two birds with one stone – funding the experience while you live it!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There are plenty of organisations that will set you up with a job before
you even leave Australia, so you can confidently rock up in another country
knowing you’ll have cash coming your way. Many of these organisations will also
help with sorting out your visa as well. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The most popular destinations are naturally English speaking countries
like the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, but that isn’t to say
you can’t venture further afield. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Lots of gappers choose to work in boarding schools, pubs, ski resorts or
summer camps – most of which offer staff accommodation and a network of other
travellers who are also pulling pints or operating chairlifts to pay their way
around the world! </span></p>
<h4><b><span>3.) Student exchange</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Embarking on an overseas adventure doesn’t necessarily mean burning all
your books and shunning everything that is educationally inclined. In fact, the
student life is a pretty sweet one – and it’s even better if you get to do it
in a foreign country! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>School leavers can sign themselves up to attend a foreign high school and
live with a host family. It’s a great way to get immersed in a new culture,
learn a new language and make loads of new friends. And you get to live the
high school life without the worries of looming final-year exams! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>University students also have plenty of opportunities to take their
study abroad – many unis have partner universities where students can take
classes and transfer credit points. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Another alternative is for you to study with an Australian university or
vocational education provider while overseas, via <a href="http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/education-training/">distance education</a>.
There is a plethora of courses that you can study online, covering every
subject area, so it's worth checking out the range of options.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Another way of racking up international experience in the name of
learning is to get involved with an internship in another country. i-to-i
internship placements run from two to 24 weeks in fields such as health and
medicine, marketing, tourism, sports and media. </span></p>
<h4><b><span>4.) Au
pair</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Working as an au pair, or nanny, is a fantastic way to immerse yourself
in the culture of a country. You will live with a host family, receiving free
rent and board plus a small wage in return for looking after the children.
Through various agencies, you can organise a placement with a screened family
in whichever country takes your fancy. With the exception of France, you don’t
need to be able to speak the local language before you take up the position but
au pair placements are a great chance to learn or improve a foreign language –
and many come with an allowance for language lessons. Most placements are for
between 10 and 12 months, but you can also book in for four- month summer
placements in France or Italy.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>5.) TESOL </span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>TESOL is an acronym for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
and is what you’ll need if you want to teach your way around the world. Courses
are open to all fluent English speakers and range from a four-week intensive
class room-based class to <a href="http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/education-training/study-tesol-online/">online
courses</a>. TESOL jobs abroad include placements in colleges, universities,
language schools, kindergartens, public schools, private tutoring, companies
and businesses, voluntary work, hospitals or tourism. There is a huge demand
for TESOL teachers in nearly every country in the world.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>Put it on your resume</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Your gap year might have involved a little more partying than time spent
building serious career credentials. Dancing on bars, body shots and
irresponsible escapades should be discreetly omitted from the public record
– instead you should focus on the knowledge you acquired, the talents you
utilised and the social contributions you made.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/58054/Worldwide/5-Tips-for-finding-a-temporary-home-in-a-new-destination">5 tips for finding a temporary home in a new destination</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/72932/Worldwide/10-Ways-to-Make-Money-on-the-Road">10 Ways to Make Money on the Road</a></p><h4>About <a href="www.careerfaqs.com.au">Career FAQS</a></h4><p class="MsoNormal">With over 600 courses from 11 leading Australian distance education providers including Open Universities Australia, The Australian Institute of Applied Sciences and SEEK Learning, Career FAQs is the leading authority and source for Australian courses, resumes, cover letters and other quality career resources. Today, over 400,000 visitors per month get their education and career information from <a href="www.careerfaqs.com.au">Career FAQs</a>. </p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span> and have
an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span>.
We'll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, get </span><span><a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a></span><span> from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '</span><span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask
A Nomad' iPad</span></a></span><span> app) and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through
our Footprints program. </span></p>
<span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span><span></span><p class="MsoNormal" />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75458/Worldwide/Taking-a-Gap-Year-5-Ideas-for-First-Timers
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75458/Worldwide/Taking-a-Gap-Year-5-Ideas-for-First-Timers#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75458/Worldwide/Taking-a-Gap-Year-5-Ideas-for-First-TimersMon, 29 Aug 2011 16:19:00 GMT010 Reasons Why Taking a Working Holiday is a Good Idea<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/wh.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Flickr.com, by avlxyz" /></p>
<span>A working holiday is when you spend a
significant amount of time in another country and have the working rights to
back it up.<span> </span>With this setup, you
are able to pick up a job or two (or 6) and break that arrangement up by
traveling or moving on to a new location in the country.<span> </span>For the vagabond, this is the perfect
situation that needs no selling.<span>
</span>For others who think it might sound appealing but still need that extra
push, here are the reasons why taking part in a working holiday is a great idea
to consider.</span>
<h4><b><span>1.) A working
holiday visa gives you longer to travel.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>In general, a working holiday visa grants
you access to a country for a longer period of time than a standard tourist
visa.<span> </span>In Australia, for example, the
typical tourist visa is for 3 months when a working holiday visa grants you
country-roaming rights for 12.<span>
</span>Even if you don't work at all, the working holiday visa could be a good
option for the individual that wants to stay in Australia for as long as possible
without needing to deal with exiting and entering multiple times for visa
renewal.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>2.) The getaway
is sustainable.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>With a working holiday visa, you can work
as you go, meaning you won't necessarily go into debt while spending time
abroad.<span> </span>Your method of travel may
vary.<span> </span>Some prefer to travel
up-front for several months and then spend the rest of the time working in one
or two different locations.<span> </span>Others
prefer to work for a month, travel for a month and then work for a month
again.<span> </span>Either way, the travel is
sustainable in the sense that you can keep refilling your travel funds with
casual employment.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>3.) You can
leave sooner.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Without the need to save up thousands and
thousands of dollars in advance, you can leave for overseas adventures sooner
with a working holiday visa. If there is anything more of a downer when it
comes to travel, it just might be the idea that you can't do it because of
money problems.<span> </span>The working
holiday visa alleviates this issue.</span></p>
<h4><span><b>4.) </b></span><b><span>It provides
an opportunity to try your hand at various trades.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>With a working holiday visa, you are
basically given the opportunity to test out any type of job, and you are
probably put in a position to accept ones that you normally wouldn't when at
home.<span> </span>You never know what you
might discover.<span> </span>Perhaps your
perfect job might be one where you're working on a cattle ranch in the outback
or serving up drinks at a pub in London.<span>
</span>Maybe you discover that street marketing is your forte.<span> </span>A working holiday, in this sense, could
end up being a life-changing experience.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>5.) You can give
your holiday more structure.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Many travelers find themselves, when
staying in hostels night after night, participating in parties and drinking
activities more often.<span> </span>Not only
does this cause you to deplete your travel funds, it might also lead you to
doing less of the real travel activities you came for in the first place.<span> </span>By splicing in some working here and
there, it helps to put you on a schedule and keep your travels more structured.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>6.) A working
holiday makes a good break.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>A popular time to sign up for a working
holiday is that break between high school and college or the break after
college and before entering the real working world.<span> </span>Later working holiday experiences are often used by
individuals as a way to get out of a rutt with a job back home and have new
choices.<span> </span>The reason the working
holiday is so great is because it allows for this break with some employment
opportunities in the mix.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>7.) You may make
more local friends.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When you're backpacking or jumping from
place to place constantly, the majority of the people you meet – in hostels or
on tours, for example – are simply other tourists.<span> </span>By taking up employment in a country abroad, you are more
likely to meet and make friends with the locals, and that can do wonders for
really introducing you to a culture.</span></p>
<h4><span><b>8.) </b></span><b><span>You gain a
better cultural understanding.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There's really only so much you can do and
learn in a country on short 2 week holidays.<span> </span>While this may lead to a general understanding of a culture,
there's no getting around how much more you will learn with an extended working
holiday stay.<span> </span>In addition, you
will have actual working experience in a foreign country, which may or may not
be of benefit to you on your return back home.</span></p>
<h4><span></span><b><span>9.) It builds a
better resume.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Obviously, this point is one of
contradictory views.<span> </span>Having a
working holiday build a better resume comes down to the field you intend to
work in down the road, as well as the type of work you will be undertaking
while abroad.<span> </span>Some employers might
enjoy that a potential employee has work experience and cultural understanding
abroad.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>10.) It gives the
chance to assess a potential expat location.</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Seeing how a working holiday gives a person
the opportunity to stay for an extended period in another country, it allows
for individuals the chance to assess whether or not this would be a good
permanent move.<span> </span>You would get to
see first-hand how good or bad the economy is functioning, what the job market
is like in your intended field and a whether or not you mesh well with the
setup in general. A working holiday in this case would be more of a trial-run.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Related Articles:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/71719/Worldwide/7-Tips-for-Making-Your-Working-Holiday-a-Success">7 Tips for Making your Working Holiday a Success</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/72932/Worldwide/10-Ways-to-Make-Money-on-the-Road">10 Ways to Make Money on the Road</a></p>
<h4><span>About the Author</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Brooke
Schoenman is the type of person that doesn't need any convincing when it comes
to heading out on a working holiday, but she is more than happy to help others
who are still on the fence make the big leap.<span> </span>She currently lives in Australia where she also writes for
an </span><span><a href="http://www.australiablog.com/"><span>Australia
Travel Guide</span></a><span>, but you can
catch some of her personal adventures on her </span><a href="http://brookevstheworld.com/"><span>world travel blog</span></a><span> or by following along on </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/brookevstheworld"><span>Facebook</span></a><span> and </span><a href="http://twitter.com/brookeschoenman"><span>Twitter</span></a><span>.</span></span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span> and have
an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span>.
We'll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, get </span><span><a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a></span><span> from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '</span><span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask
A Nomad' iPad</span></a></span><span> app) and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through
our Footprints program. </span></p>
<span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span><p class="MsoNormal" />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76139/Worldwide/10-Reasons-Why-Taking-a-Working-Holiday-is-a-Good-Idea
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76139/Worldwide/10-Reasons-Why-Taking-a-Working-Holiday-is-a-Good-Idea#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/76139/Worldwide/10-Reasons-Why-Taking-a-Working-Holiday-is-a-Good-IdeaSun, 21 Aug 2011 16:39:00 GMT1Why Students Liking Their ESL Teacher Does Matter<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/eslstudents.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Flickr.com, by goldendragon" /></p>
<h4><span>What happens if you and your ESL students
don't get along?</span></h4><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>That's a good question, and I believe it is
a topic that should be analyzed a bit further because – although teaching is
still teaching – there are generally a few more negatives to when students do
not like their ESL teachers in particular.</span></p>
<h4><span>ESL Teachers vs. Normal School Teachers</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>We all had those teachers during our
formative years that no one seemed to enjoy, but they still continued to teach
at the same school and have stories and exaggerated tales being told of them
throughout the generations of students.<span>
</span>It doesn't matter how much a student dislikes the teachers; for the most
part, as long as the school thinks the teacher is out there following the
curriculum, he remains in his position.<span>
</span>And, since general schooling is mandatory, the students will keep coming
over the years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>This is the main difference between normal
school teachers and ESL teachers.<span>
</span>Going to ESL classes is generally not part of a set curriculum, and,
therefore, both the students and parents of said students have more control
over who they ultimately choose as a teacher.</span></p>
<h4><span>Why Students Liking
the ESL Teacher Matters</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>You Get More Work</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When students like their ESL teacher, they
let people know.<span> </span>Not only do they
tend to request further lessons with the same teacher, but their friends and
acquaintances start requesting lessons as well.<span> </span>If you're in a tight community in another country, you just
might find that your normal classroom lessons (depending on your teaching
setup) become packed with students, and your private tutoring schedule fills
up, too. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>You Keep Your Job</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Obviously, all ESL teaching setups will
vary, but happy students generally mean a happy school.<span> </span>Your employers will enjoy that you are
building a positive reputation for their curriculum and want to keep you on
board as long as possible.<span> </span>On the
opposite end of the spectrum, a teacher that no students enjoy will potentially
push students to other language schools in the area, and that could mean no
contract renewal, or even a lost job, for the teacher.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Your Students Pay Attention</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>If you go back to your own personal
schooling days and think about the courses that you learned and/or enjoyed the
most, chances are that the teacher was someone you respected or simply
liked.<span> </span>They probably made the
material into something the student (you at the time) could relate to, and this
is a key factor in the ESL classroom as well.<span> </span>If you can get your students to actually pay attention, they
will simply learn more English!</span></p>
<h4><span>Getting Students to
Like You, the Teacher</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>All teachers and students are created
differently, so while you can't please them all, you can at least do a few
things to ensure you please most.<span>
</span>I can say from experience that this is difficult with some unruly
students, but the more you reach out, the more you can help to change the
experience for the better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Show an Interest in Their Lives</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When a student talks about his or her
extracurricular activities, family and friends, try to remember the details
(maybe jot down notes) and ask him or her about them periodically throughout
your teaching experience.<span> </span>It will
just give that extra bit more to make the student feel like you, the teacher,
thinks of him as more than just another number. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Involve Everyone in the Class</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Leaving someone out of the conversation or
the activities will make them feel even more distanced from the class and the
teacher.<span> </span>When a student has no
connection with a class, they will most likely stop paying attention and also
have no incentive in even staying <i>your</i> student in particular.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Use References They Can Relate To</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Relevant examples can mean the difference
between understanding and remembering or just forgetting immediately after a
lesson.<span> </span>As a teacher, your
job is to provide the best learning environment possible, and even if you are a
wealth of knowledge, not being able to share that in a way the students can
relate to is just like wasting time.<span>
</span>When your students learn more, they feel more excited about coming to
your classes because it actually pays off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Don't Show Your Frustration</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Teaching, ESL or not, is not easy.<span> </span>There will be times that you feel
frustrated with your students or the progress they are making.<span> </span>However, you must never, ever let that
frustration truly show in class.<span>
</span>One of the quickest ways to push students away is to make them feel even
more distanced by your anger and like they aren't learning anything.</span></p>
<h4><span>Final Thoughts</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>For working holiday makers or backpackers
taking up jobs in foreign countries in order to save some extra travel money,
they must both understand that the business of ESL teaching is a little
different than the business of becoming a long-term school teacher in your home
country.<span> </span>As an ESL teacher, the act
of getting your students to like you will be one that helps them learn the most
and you to keep working more and longer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70123/Thailand/Getting-TEFL-Certified-Life-in-Front-of-a-Thai-Classroom">Getting TEFL Certified: Life in Front of a Thai Classroom</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69155/Thailand/A-Reflection-on-Teaching-in-Thailand-Becoming-a-Better-Teacher">A Reflection on Teaching in Thailand: Becoming a Better Teacher</a></p><h4>About the Author</h4>
<span>Brooke
Schoenman is a world traveler, brief archaeologist, foreign language learner,
and former ESL teacher turned Australia expat. She writes for both her own </span><span><a href="http://brookevstheworld.com/"><span>world travel
blog</span></a><span> and an </span><a href="http://www.australiablog.com/"><span>Australia travel guide</span></a><span>, and you can also follow along on </span><a href="http://twitter.com/brookeschoenman"><span>Twitter</span></a><span> and </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/brookevstheworld"><span>Facebook </span></a><span>for travel inspiration.</span></span><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span></span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span> and have
an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span>.
We'll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, get </span><span><a href="http://answers.worldnomads.com/"><span>answers</span></a></span><span> from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new '</span><span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ask-a-nomad/id446302438?mt=8"><span>Ask
A Nomad' iPad</span></a></span><span> app) and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through
our Footprints program. </span></p>
<span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75153/Worldwide/Why-Students-Liking-Their-ESL-Teacher-Does-Matter
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75153/Worldwide/Why-Students-Liking-Their-ESL-Teacher-Does-Matter#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/75153/Worldwide/Why-Students-Liking-Their-ESL-Teacher-Does-MatterMon, 25 Jul 2011 16:34:00 GMT110 Ways to Make Money on the Road<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/money_Tom_Coates.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Flickr.com, by [Tom Coates]." /></p>
<p /><p><span>If you dream of living a nomadic existence,
travelling the world for an indefinite amount of time, then the one thing that
you need to figure out is money. Whilst you can travel the world on a budget
living off dried noodles, at some point that money will run out if nothing is
coming in. Of course you can work hard at home to save up money, spend it all
on a whirlwind trip around the world, then come back with nothing and save it
all up again. But what if you could find a way to make a living on the road, so
you didn’t have to do that? There’s a new breed of nomad out there- the money
savvy traveller who isn’t afraid to use a bit of ingenuity and make a living
out of travelling the world. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>1. Writing for the web</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span> </span></b><span>If you have a way with words and are good at writing, there are
plenty of online travel magazines like <a href="http://matadortravel.com/bounty-board/current"><span>Matador</span></a>
and <a href="http://writers.bootsnall.com/"><span>BootsNAll</span></a><a href="http://writers.bootsnall.com/"><span> </span></a>that
will pay for your writing. You can also make money as a copywriter writing
articles, press releases and web content. Freelance websites like <a href="http://www.peopleperhour.com/"><span>People</span></a><a href="http://www.peopleperhour.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.peopleperhour.com/"><span>Per</span></a><a href="http://www.peopleperhour.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.peopleperhour.com/"><span>Hour</span></a>
or <a href="http://www.freelancer.com/"><span>Freelancer</span></a><a href="http://www.freelancer.com/"><span>.</span></a><a href="http://www.freelancer.com/"><span>com</span></a><a href="http://www.freelancer.com/"><span> </span></a>are a
good place to start looking. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>2. Start a travel blog</span></b><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Travel blogging is one option to make money online, but it’s hard
work and you won’t make money overnight. Buy yourself a domain name, set up
Wordpress, choose a nice theme, then begin publishing quality articles that
people would want to read. Market your blog through social media sites and
network with other travel bloggers out there. Of course there’s no exact recipe
for success, but once you’ve built traffic you can make money through google
ads, affiliate schemes and private advertisers. There are plenty of ebooks and
websites out there telling you how to make money blogging, but to start with
maybe check out <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.problogger.net%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE78k6fI3S49MIZzJMbYo3tLH-DRg"><span>Problogger</span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.problogger.net%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE78k6fI3S49MIZzJMbYo3tLH-DRg"><span> </span></a>and <a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span>Make</span></a><a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span>Money</span></a><a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span>Travel</span></a><a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://makemoneytravelblogging.com/"><span>Blogging</span></a>.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>2. Photography</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>The wonderful thing about travel is that there are so many photo
opportunities of landmarks, people, food and scenery. If you’re a budding
photographer and have the ability to capture stunning photos, then you can make
money by selling your photos to publications. You can also make money by
selling images on stock photography websites like <a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/"><span>istockphoto</span></a><a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/"><span> </span></a>or <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/"><span>shutterstock</span></a>.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>4. Web Design &amp; Graphic Design</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>The brilliant thing about having a job that’s centered around the
Internet is that you can do the work from anywhere in the world, as long as you
have a laptop and internet connection. Everybody needs a website these days.
You can make money by offering to make websites for bars, restaurants, villa
rentals, surf camps...wherever you go you’ll meet people in need of a website
or logo. Travel with business cards in your pocket and network with people in
the place you’re staying. Look at job boards on freelance websites and check
out sites like <a href="http://craigslist.com/"><span>craigslist</span></a>.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>5. Bar/Restaurant jobs</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>This is probably the easiest option on the list because you can get
working holiday visas for countries like Australia, the UK, Canada and New
Zealand and do some bar tending or serving. The best way to get a job like this
is by walking into a bar and handing in your CV, or chatting to the bar
manager. If you have a European passport then you can work in tons of countries
across Europe. Of course, whilst I’m not <i>encouraging </i>this, there are
plenty of bars and restaurants that will pay in cash for handing out flyers and
bar tending. I know many people who travel around the world doing seasonal work
too in hotels and resorts. They follow the snow and do a ski season in the Alps
or Canada, then spend the summer working in the Greek Islands. With bar and serving
jobs in some countries you can make more money in tips than from your actual
wage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>6. Teaching English as a second
language</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>This is still one of the most popular
ways to make money abroad, particularly if you want to travel to Asian
countries like Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea. It can be
beneficial to have a university degree and a TEFL or TESOL certificate, but not
always compulsory. The best site to visit is <a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span>Dave</span></a><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span>’</span></a><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span>s</span></a><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span>ESL</span></a><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/"><span>Cafe</span></a> to get you started. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>7. <b>WWOOFING and fruit picking</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><b> </b><a href="http://www.pommietravels.com/2009/07/tips-for-going-fruit-picking/"><span>Fruit</span></a><a href="http://www.pommietravels.com/2009/07/tips-for-going-fruit-picking/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.pommietravels.com/2009/07/tips-for-going-fruit-picking/"><span>picking</span></a> isn’t for the faint-hearted (believe
me, I tried it and didn’t last very long) but there are plenty of fruit picking
and packing opportunities, particularly in Australia and New Zealand. You can
find work through an agency that will contact you to tell you of the work they
have available, through websites like <a href="http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/"><span>Anywork</span></a><a href="http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/"><span>Anywhere</span></a>
and <a href="http://www.pickingjobs.com/"><span>Picking</span></a><a href="http://www.pickingjobs.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.pickingjobs.com/"><span>Jobs</span></a>,
or by looking locally in hostels and pubs in fruit picking areas.<span> </span>WWOOFING involves volunteering on
organic farms in exchange for accommodation and food and you can search for
opportunities on the <a href="http://www.wwoof.org/"><span>WWOOF</span></a>
website. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>8. Hostel Work</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>If you’re looking for some free accommodation, there are plenty of
live-in jobs you can do, including hostel work. Talk to the hostel owner where
you are staying and ask if you can do some work in exchange for free
accommodation. You’ll probably have to do things like sitting on reception,
showing people to their rooms, night shifts and making beds. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>9. Crew</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>You
can find crew jobs on boats, luxury yachts and cruise ships by looking at crew
sites or paying a visit to the nearest harbour to ask about any jobs. You could
be a deck hand, a steward or stewardess, an engineer, or a chef and you get to
sail to some exotic destinations.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>10. Ebooks/themes/apps </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span>With the Internet there are lots of opportunities these days to
create and sell products like Wordpress Themes, Apps and ebooks. Whilst you may
have to put quite a bit of effort in to make it, once it’s done you get
consistent passive income from it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Of course, this is just the tip of the
iceberg and there are plenty of job opportunities out there. You could get a
diving instructor’s licence, work in a trade, temp in an office or become a
tour guide for the summer. Think about the skills you possess and how you could
use them. Some people fall into a job by accident because they were in the
right place at the right time, whilst sometimes people land a job by enquiring
in advance. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/71719/Worldwide/7-Tips-for-Making-Your-Working-Holiday-a-Success">7 Tips for Making your Working Holiday a Success</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/58054/Worldwide/5-Tips-for-finding-a-temporary-home-in-a-new-destination">5 Tips for Finding a Temporary Home in a New Destination </a></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><h4>About the Author</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Victoria
Brewood has been travelling the world and working from her laptop since 2009.
She packed her Broadcast Journalism degree into her backpack and set out to
travel the world and work remotely. She is the owner of travel blog <a href="http://www.pommietravels.com/"><span>Pommie</span></a><a href="http://www.pommietravels.com/"><span> </span></a><a href="http://www.pommietravels.com/"><span>Travels</span></a>
and makes a living as a freelance copywriter. <b></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><h4>About WorldNomads.com</h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with<a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a>, flirt in over 25 languages with our <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a>, have an experience of a lifetime on a <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a> and donate to a <a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Read more <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/OffTheBeatenPath/story/"><span>stories from WorldNomads.com</span></a> and keep travelling safely. </span></p><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/72932/Worldwide/10-Ways-to-Make-Money-on-the-Road
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/72932/Worldwide/10-Ways-to-Make-Money-on-the-Road#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/72932/Worldwide/10-Ways-to-Make-Money-on-the-RoadMon, 23 May 2011 20:19:00 GMT0Getting TEFL Certified: Life in Front of a Thai Classroom<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/darathai2.jpg" /></p>
<span><span>I decided to it was
time to take my travels to another level and apply</span></span> <span>myself to something more than just serving
drinks. Working as a bartender</span> <span>in Australia
was great fun, but I felt like I needed to start giving</span> <span>back, although some may argue a Bartender gives back
plenty!</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span>
<span>I researched <a href="http://www.teflcourse.net/">TEFL International</a>
and</span> <span>teaching abroad. There are plenty of
different exotic locations</span> <span>available to
take the course: Buenos Aires, Phuket, New York City, Paris...I</span> <span>chose Ban Phe, Thailand. This no-name town just two
hours south of</span> <span>Bangkok would be my home for
4 weeks. Like I said, I was reaching for</span> <span>a
new level and wanted a raw, cultural experience during my time in</span> <span>the course. I also didn't want any distractions that
these</span> <span>&quot;oh-so-exotic&quot; cities have
to offer.</span><br />
<br />
Alas, <span>it was visa time again. All travellers know
and love that time where we</span> <span>freak out about
how, when, and how much a visa will cost, and that it</span> <span>never grants us enough time to stay where we want to
stay. I could</span> <span>have received a 30-day tourist
visa upon arrival at the airport in Bangkok, but I decided</span> <span>to look a little deeper into other options.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>I was living in
Melbourne at the time and was able to visit the Royal Thai Consulate to get
more information about a student visa.<span>
</span>Embassies or Consulates are always the best place to ask questions and
get answers. Yes, we all live and die by the internet, but, sometimes you can’t
be sure where these sites get facts from, and we all know its better to be safe
than sorry (especially when you are dealing with a developing or third world
country). </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>So, the student visa
granted me three months in Thailand and took less than a week to process. I had
to contact the TEFL Ban Phe office to have them email me an admissions letter
stating the course and dates I would be enrolled in. I simply brought the
student visa application back to the Consulate, along with the TEFL letter, a
copy of my passport, two passport photos and $90. I received a stamp in my passport
that would stand as my visa and <i>voila! </i><span> </span>I was ready to start my adventure
without the headache of organizing a day-long visa run to Cambodia or Laos
during the last few crucial days of the course. </span></span><span><br />
<br />
I arrived in <span>Ban Phe and was truly introduced to
the Thai culture. My experience was</span> <span>not
tainted by touristy cafes, bars or shops. I was able to connect</span> <span>with local store owners and build friendships with Thais
who lived in</span> <span>this small fishing village. A
traditional, hot meal cost as little as $1 US and were in</span> <span>portions that didn't make my stomach feel like bursting.
A</span> <span>few of my fellow students and I would eat
lunch at a great little place</span> <span>called
&quot;SA's&quot; just two doors down from the school. The owner knew us</span> <span>by name and made one killer cheeseburger when we were
craving some</span> <span>fatty, American food. There
was an incredible night market about 30 minutes by song thao nearby. Ban Phe
had a supermarket, pharmacy, stationary store and plenty of other little “mom
and pops” that would provide anything I wanted. And if there was any abstract
item I may have randomly developed a need for, a larger city, Rayong was not
far away. It was also just a short ferry ride to the island of Koh Sumet in
case I was in need of a weekend getaway. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>You can check out my
time in Ban Phe <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/18161173">here</a> for a closer look to life in that little fishing village: </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>After the course I
decided it was time to party for a few weeks. I went off to Koh Phangan, Koh
Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. It was high season by that time and the islands were
riddled with tourists. I would only have to walk a few feet to find an Italian
restaurant or Irish Pub. Where was I?? It was as if I travelled back to America
or Australia. I had experienced what I like to call “reverse culture shock.”
Having been so accustomed to living amongst Thai people I was annoyed by the
overkill of obnoxious Western tourists.<span>
</span>All I wanted to do was crawl back to my little Thai village of stray
dogs and cashew chicken. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>As far as teaching in
Thailand, it’s a different world. There will be situations to be dealt with
that are unknown to the Western working world. Your boss will not speak
English, you won’t be paid on time, you won’t be able to communicate with
parents; the list can go on and on. </span></span></p>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span><span>If you have a
university degree and a TEFL certificate your chances for finding a job in
Thailand are great. If you have a degree and no certificate your chances are
also great. If you have a certificate and no degree your chances are pretty
good. If you have no degree and no certificate you may run into some problems. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/darathai.jpg" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>If you are looking
for teaching opportunities in Thailand there is a gamut of web sites to get you
started.<span> </span>Here is some great advice
from my TEFL teacher trainer in regards to searching for jobs: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>“<i>These are, by far, not even close to ALL of
the websites available to job hunting teachers, but it is a good start.
Some sites, like “ESL café,” have additional resources and board posts that can
provide supplementary help for those interested. I definitely recommend
you take some time and check out the web sites and the links they include to
other sites. I didn't research agencies or listings that you have to
pay for. It wasn't really done intentionally, but agencies and listings
are actually the first type of web sites you find when you use a search engine
(money talks). For some listings you have to pay a fee and some agencies
take a percentage from your pay, or get paid when you get hired, so their
motivation to place you in a school might not always be in your best
interest. But the possibilities are there and I encourage you to
explore <b>every </b>option. Those that actively look for jobs
will find them. The key word is </i></span></span><em><b><span>actively</span></b></em><span><i><span>.” </span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span><a href="http://eslcafe.com/">ESL Cafe </a></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span><a href="www.daveseslcafe.com">Dave's ESL Cafe</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span><a href="http://www.esljobs.com/teach-english/thailand/j0r">ESL Jobs</a></p><a href="http://www.esljobs.com/teach-english/thailand/j0r"></a>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.eslemployment.com/country/esl-jobs-thailand.html">ESL Employment</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/country/thailand/">Learn 4 Good</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.teflcoursethailand.com/esl-jobs-thailand.shtml">TEFL course Thailand</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.totalesl.com/job.php">Total ESL</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.esljobspot.com/teaching-in-thailand.htm">ESL Job Spot</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.jobstefl.com/thailand.asp">Jobs TEFL</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span></span><a href="http://www.jobmonkey.com/teaching/asia/html/thailand.html">Job Monkey</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.eccthai.com/job/vacancies.asp">ECC Thai</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.esljobs77.com/jobs/3-Thailand-jobs?gclid=CLGk1oiUnKACFdNR6wodcSI8eA"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></a><span><a href="http://www.esljobs77.com/jobs/3-Thailand-jobs?gclid=CLGk1oiUnKACFdNR6wodcSI8eA">ESL Jobs 77</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.teachabroad.com/Thailand.cfm"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></a><span><a href="http://www.teachabroad.com/Thailand.cfm">Teach Abroad</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Don't forget other resources like <a href="http://www.britishcouncil.org/teacherrecruitment.htm">government organizations</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Or local newspapers like <a href="http://bangkokpost.com/">The Bangkok Post</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>My personal advice
when teaching abroad is to step outside of your box. Be a traveller, not a
tourist. <span> </span>Don’t always go for what
is easy, popular or familiar. It’s harder to assimilate into a totally
different culture than to go for what you know. But, the gains are more than
the losses and you will find that you survived after all is said and done and
you’re a better person for doing so. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69155/Thailand/A-Reflection-on-Teaching-in-Thailand-Becoming-a-Better-Teacher">A Reflection on Teaching in Thailand - Becoming a Better Teacher</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/58492/Thailand/7-Reasons-to-TEFL-in-Thailand">7 Reasons to TEFL in Thailand</a></p><h4>About the Author</h4><p class="MsoNormal">After winning <a href="http://vantastic.worldnomads.com/">Van-tastic Adventures</a>’ Tasmania leg, Dara
decided it was time to pack her bags and begin her epic adventure around the
world. She worked in and around
Melbourne until heading to Thailand to become TEFL certified to be an ESL teacher. Her next journey will be back to Asia and
then Canada. Get a front-row seat to her wild ride on her video travel blog, <a href="http://one-wayticket.com/Dara_Simkin_One-Way_Ticket/One-Way_Ticket.html">One-Way
Ticket</a>.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><h4>About WorldNomads.com</h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with<a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a>, flirt in over 25 languages with our <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a>, have an experience of a lifetime on a <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a> and donate to a <a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Read more <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/OffTheBeatenPath/story/"><span>stories from WorldNomads.com</span></a> and keep travelling safely. </span></p><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span></span></span></p><span></span><span><span><a href="http://www.one-wayticket.com/"></a></span></span><span></span>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70123/Thailand/Getting-TEFL-Certified-Life-in-Front-of-a-Thai-Classroom
TravelThailandworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70123/Thailand/Getting-TEFL-Certified-Life-in-Front-of-a-Thai-Classroom#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70123/Thailand/Getting-TEFL-Certified-Life-in-Front-of-a-Thai-ClassroomTue, 12 Apr 2011 20:12:00 GMT07 Tips for Making Your Working Holiday a Success<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/caz.jpg" /></p>
I’ve been travelling around the world working in other
countries for 14 years now. I know the working holiday experience well. In that
time I have seen many others walking the same path, very quickly turn around
and run for the next plane home.
<p class="MsoNormal">Living and working in another country has its fair share of
challenges and surprises, but if you can be fully prepared for the experience,
it can be one of the most rewarding travel experiences you can ever have. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is also one of the most cost efficient ways to travel the
world as you don’t need to save as much before you leave to go overseas, and
you can travel on the local currency while there. Every day is an adventure in
itself as you are now living in a new and exotic culture. A working holiday
experiences offers you a total immersion into the culture and enables you to
make lifelong international friends</p>
<h3>Here are some tips to make your working holiday experience a
success:</h3>
<h4><b>Choose your country wisely</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal">When choosing which country you
would like to work in there are a number of important factors you need to
consider. The first is to work out which countries you are eligible to work in
through work visas. You then need to consider the types of work experiences
available to you, the cost of living in that country and the salary you will
receive. This is so important. I had many friends who left after their first
year of teaching in the US as their salary was not enough to cover their living
expenses and travel adventures. And of course you only want to work in
countries that you want to live and visit.<b></b></p>
<h4><b>Become job certified</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">How prepared are you for a variety of work options? You may
have the right credentials for your current occupation, but sometimes it is
worth learning new skills in order to give you more work options. I highly
recommend any person considering working holidays to get their TEFL
certificates before leaving. This allows you the freedom to work in many
different countries around the world. You might think you are moving to work in
London, but your plans might change and halfway through you might decide to
spend the summer in Italy teaching English. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Learning new job skills can also help you with having a
second job in order to save more money to travel with. I worked in pubs and
restaurants as a second job in Dublin and London, as well as teaching English
in summer schools.</p>
<h4><b>Organize work before
you leave</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can’t always organize work in your new country before
you leave, but it is always a great idea if you can. That is one less thing you
need to worry about upon arrival and gives you great piece of mind. Not only
that there may be certain perks that come with it and they often have
orientation sessions to help you get settled more quickly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teaching in Bangkok on a pre-organized program entitled my
husband and I to free accommodation and work visas, which are difficult to
obtain. My teaching in the US program also entitled me many benefits such as
free return flights, discounted car insurance, and subsidized health insurance.</p>
<h4><b>Do your research</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you know where you will be moving to spend a great deal
of time researching the country and local area. Find out about their culture
and way of life and make sure you are aware of any cultural taboos.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Discover what there is for you to do in the local area, and
start making a list of all the places you want to visit and experiences you
want to have. This will really get you excited for your upcoming experience.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Research and plan for things that will assist you with
cheaper costs of living, such as internet providers and phone plans. Start
looking for accommodation and any vehicles you may need to buy. We never had to
worry about purchasing cars until we moved to the US; there are limited public
transport options. This is a big factor to consider. </p>
<h4><b>Be prepared for
Culture shock</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the number one reason why people give up on their
dreams and return home so quickly. They do not understand nor know how to
manage culture shock. This is something you will go through. After having the
experience of teaching in Bangkok, London, and Dublin I thought I would sail
into teaching in the US with culture shock far behind me. Wrong it hit me big
time, and if I didn’t know what it was and how to handle it, I would have been
catching the plane home three months later with Natalie, another teacher on my
program who was slayed by the effects of not being able to adjust to the new
ways of being and doing.</p>
<h4><b>Make friends as soon
as possible</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is easy to be overwhelmed when you first arrive in the
land of your new home. Don’t let this cause you to lock yourself away in your
room. Force yourself to get out and start meeting people straight away. A good
way to do this is to join meet up groups online before you leave so that you already
have points of contact. Start meeting the people you will be working with, and
go to the places like-minded people are hanging out-- bars, restaurants, cafes,
the park or gyms. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is always a good idea to make friends with any expats in
the area, as they can be a great source of support and encouragement for you.
But, do not limit your friendships to just those people you know. Become
friends with the local people too, this is why you are on a working holiday
experience, to get to know the local culture and experience something new.</p>
<h4><b>Remember it is just a
job - Why are you really here?</b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not make the job the focus of your time in your chosen
country. You did not travel half way around the world to work another job. You came
here to travel and experience the new culture so go out and do it. By all
means, make sure you do your job well, but don’t put off doing things, just
because you have to work tomorrow or on the weekend etc. These are all job
responsibilities but find ways to work around them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Ask for time
off to go on short getaways, go out for that evening during the week, spend the
weekends exploring. Plan for long vacations during work breaks or for when you
move between jobs. If you don’t find time for these sorts of activities you
will become so disillusioned with the whole experience that you will go home.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69155/Thailand/A-Reflection-on-Teaching-in-Thailand-Becoming-a-Better-Teacher">A Reflection on Teaching in Thailand - Becoming a Better Teacher</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67731/USA/Its-not-better-or-worse-its-just-different">It's not better or worse, it's just different</a></p>
<h4>About the Author</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal">Caz Makepeace has been travelling the world and <a href="http://www.ytravelblog.com/working-abroad-2">working abroad</a> since
1997, solo, as a couple and now as a family. She shares her tips, stories and
inspirations through y travel blog. Connect with her through <a href="http://faceboook.com/ytravelblog">facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/ytravelblog">twitter.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span></span></p></span></p>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/71719/Worldwide/7-Tips-for-Making-Your-Working-Holiday-a-Success
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/71719/Worldwide/7-Tips-for-Making-Your-Working-Holiday-a-Success#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/71719/Worldwide/7-Tips-for-Making-Your-Working-Holiday-a-SuccessMon, 11 Apr 2011 16:11:00 GMT0How I Found a Job & Flat Within 2 Weeks of Arriving in Sydney<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/job1.jpg" /></p>
<h4><span>When reality steps in </span></h4><p><span>What's the least fun part of the working
holiday in Australia?<span> </span>I would
personally say it is the part where reality steps back in to that holiday and
makes you aware of the fact that finding a job and a more long-term place to
stay is necessary.<span> </span>Sure, your
money might be dwindling after nights out and hostel stays keep adding up, but
making a conscious effort to end some of that “free” fun can be a tough call
for some.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Because of this, there are countless
stories of travelers in Australia that simply “can't find jobs” or “don't have
an apartment yet”.<span> </span>You see, if you
are actually serious about finding a job and an apartment, then you can achieve
both at a fairly quick pace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>In fact, I found a job and a flat within 2
weeks of arriving in Sydney.<span> </span>How
did I do it?<span> </span>Have a read:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Before coming to Australia, I had big
expectations.<span> </span>Sydney, for example,
is a huge city, so finding a job was going to be a breeze, right?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>A few days passed and I was caught up in
the idea of which to do first – find a place or find a job.<span> </span>Many would argue that getting one first
is vital to figuring out where to look for the other, and in a widespread city
like Sydney, that is very true.<span>
</span>Not only this, but I found that by trying to do both at the same time, I
was skimping where it counted.<span>
</span>After a week of sending out resumes to countless temp agencies to get no
response and contacting numerous potential flatmates to find out the room had
already been rented – all while dealing with expensive Internet access at the
hostel I was staying at – I decided I had to take it to the next level by
giving all focus to one endeavor first.</span></p><h4>Finding a Flat</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>So, I decided that a flat was more
important at the moment, because living in a room with other people was
probably not going to help me when I had an important interview.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I set aside an entire day to looking for
apartments.<span> </span>I took snacks and a
drink and went over to the Internet cafe with a goal in mind of setting up some
places to look at ASAP.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I took to trolling Gumtree in real time; if
something popped up that looked worthwhile, I called them immediately leaving a
message or setting up a time.<span>
</span>Within a day, I was signing a lease to move in to a share house in Surry
Hills.</span></p><h4>Landing the Job</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Finally, one monkey off my back, I now had
the time to focus on finding work, and just like a job, I treated it like that,
putting in the hours needed to find something, and something special.<span> </span>The first step was to figure out my
ideal job goals and basic options.<span>
</span>For each option, I put together a targeted resume and cover letter so I
could make myself stand out amongst the thousands of other job-seekers in this
big city.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Then, just like I did with finding a flat,
I took to Gumtree.<span> </span>It turns out
that those big job sites, like Seek and CareerOne are filled with job ads from
recruiters with very few options for temporary workers.<span> </span>Gumtree allows anyone to post job ads,
for free, so the smaller companies, cafes and shops that need temporary workers
are more likely to post.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I took to scrolling in real-time.<span> </span>As I polished off my resumes, I would
check on Gumtree about every 15 minutes – multiple searches on multiple browser
tabs – and see if anything new or interesting would pop up.<span> </span>One job in particular stood out as
perfect for me, so I sent away instantaneously – a decision that resulted in an
interview being set up within a half hour (I got that job).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Also during this forced job of job-hunting,
I made another connection that, a few weeks later, resulted in a second part-time
job.<span> </span>My finances for living in the
great city of Sydney were set, my living situation was finalized, and all
within the first two weeks of arriving. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>So, if you are one of those working holiday
makers in Australia that is having issues finding a job or a flat, then I
suggest you try to take it one step further by focusing all your efforts on the
task at hand.<span> </span>In other words:<span> </span>get serious about it.<span> </span>You might also want to take into
account my article on <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/68065/Worldwide/What-to-Do-When-No-One-Wants-to-Hire-Working-Holiday-Makers"><span>what to do
when no one wants to hire working holiday makers</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b>Related Articles: </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69045/Australia/Australian-Working-Holiday-101-Turning-Inspiration-into-Employment">Australia Working Holiday 101: Turning Inspiration into Employment</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67114/Worldwide/Working-Holiday-Decisions-Travel-first-then-work">Working Holiday Decisions: Travel first, then work? </a></p><h1><span></span>
</h1>
<div>
<span></span><div><h4><span>About the Author
</span><span></span></h4><p dir="LTR" class="Default"><span>Brooke
Schoenman is a world traveler turned Australia expat. She's done the
whole work and holiday thing herself and can definitely tell you a thing
or two about traveling down under. For some travel
inspiration, be sure to check out more of her work at </span><a target="_blank" href="https://mail2.worldnomads.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=ef9ddae84267423eba8d9bec08a4e9e4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fbrookevstheworld.com%2f"><span><span>Brooke
vs. the World</span></span></a><span> and
</span><a target="_blank" href="https://mail2.worldnomads.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=ef9ddae84267423eba8d9bec08a4e9e4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.australiablog.com%2f"><span><span>WhyGo Australia</span></span></a><span>.</span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps you travelling
safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate
adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel
Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your
journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with
our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime
on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community
development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every
adventurous traveller's journey.</span></p></div></div>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70122/Australia/How-I-Found-a-Job-and-Flat-Within-2-Weeks-of-Arriving-in-Sydney
TravelAustraliaworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70122/Australia/How-I-Found-a-Job-and-Flat-Within-2-Weeks-of-Arriving-in-Sydney#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/70122/Australia/How-I-Found-a-Job-and-Flat-Within-2-Weeks-of-Arriving-in-SydneyThu, 24 Mar 2011 19:58:00 GMT7A Reflection on Teaching in Thailand - Becoming a Better Teacher<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/View_from_Golden_Mountain.jpg" /></p>
<p /><p /><p class="MsoNormal"><span>My high school in Bangkok had never had a
native speaking English teacher before, especially one that was in stark
contrast--with my blond hair, blue eyes and skirts-- to the 500 hundred boys I
was soon to teach. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The microphone almost slipped out of my hand,
not from the humid heat, but my nerves as I stood up at the whole school
assembly on my first day to introduce myself. Rows of identical faces, dressed
in uniforms of white shirts and khaki shorts smiled up at me, nodding and
clapping, even though none of them knew a word the strange <i>falang </i>was muttering
to them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Were the students able to understand me by
the end of my 6 month teaching contract at Wat Saket High School? A magician I
am not. And while many of my boys learned new phrases and expressions, some
learned a lot more and some less. But by the end of it, most had a deeper
understanding of the many foreigners they see daily invading the streets of
their city. They had that much needed English and foreign exposure that they,
in their cardboard shacks along the Chao Phraya River, would normally never
have. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>My success at the school was not of a
quantitative measure but more of a deeper impact that so often comes when two
differing cultures merge to learn that it is not the differences that separate
us as much as the similarities unite us. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.ytravelblog.com/working-abroad-2/how-to-teach-english-overseas"><span>Teaching
English in a foreign country</span></a> can have so many rewards. Here are just
some that I walked away with from my time teaching in Bangkok.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>Cultural
experiences</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Wat Saket High school is attached to Wat
Saket, a well-known temple in Bangkok. Many tourists<span> </span>know this as The Golden Mount, or Phuu Khao Tong. We could
see the Golden Mount from our converted-office bedroom on the third floor of
the school building. I often took my students for walks up to the top and
surrounding grounds for lessons. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Wat Saket is a Royal Temple, and religious
ceremonies are often held here. One of the privileges of teaching at Wat Saket
was that Craig and I were invited to many of these ceremonies; ceremonies that
<i>falangs</i> would otherwise never get the chance to be a witness of.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>It is Thai custom for all young men to be
ordained and a very famous Thai singing superstar chose to be ordained at Wat
Saket as a monk for 2 weeks. As we were on a cultural exchange program, and I
was a teacher at the school, we were invited.<span> </span>The temple, and our school, was filled with hundreds of
fans, celebrities, and journalists witnessing the historic event. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Although we could not understand a word of
the ceremony, our friend and mentor Gai, translated as best as she could. We
watched with fascination as his head was shaved and cleaned. Adorned in white
robes he walked around the temple three times, or should I say shuffled, with
the amount of people clambering around to just get one touch. </span></p>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>We were then given access to the intimate
ceremony within the temple where he changed into his orange robe and was given
his monks bowl so he could receive alms from the people early each morning. The
prayers and chanting then rang on into the afternoon and good luck coins
wrapped in orange cellophane were thrown out in the crowd. Mine is still pasted
into my journal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/Thai_celebrity_being_ordained.jpg" /></p>
<h4><b><span>Friends</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There is a gentle calm and light-hearted
friendliness that comes with my relationships with my Thai family. Every moment
spent with them was filled with laughter as we tried to understand each other
and work out the different ways we thought. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Jintina, one of the most kind-spirited
person I have ever met, became our guide, mother,<span> </span>friend and a very supportive colleague for me at school.
Whenever I needed a hug, or a talk she was there to, not remind me of my
problems of challenges, but to show me what was so wonderful about my life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>She gathered her friends and ex-students
together and we would spend almost every Friday night going out to dinner,
watching movies and eating ice-cream. There was nothing Jintana wouldn't do for
you and she showed us what true friendship really means.</span></p>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>In Thailand it is quite normal for teachers
to hold friendships with their students. The students often took us for weekend
excursions to nearby historical sites, as well as to coastal towns such as
Pattaya to see famous Cabaret performances. They taught us how to cook Thai style,
helped us learn the language, showed us “local” Bangkok, which included where
to get the best massages, the most delicious food, and the best camera
equipment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/Thai_family.jpg" /></p>
<h4><b><span>Respect</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>“Whatever you do, do not throw your
books on the desk, as Western people are so apt to do. The book is a giver of
knowledge and Thai people treat it with the utmost respect.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I was soon to learn how much respect Thais
hold for many things--Buddha, teachers, knowledge, each other. My eyes were
open as to how easy it is to respect things, and just how much of a gift
respect is. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The Wai is a sign of respect in Thailand.
This is when two hands are brought together in prayer style and touched,
depending on your level of authority, on a persons chest, chin or forehead. The
higher your level of authority, the higher the Wai is and the lower the
person's body becomes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There was not a minute walking down the
school halls, where I would not be given a Wai by a passing student. Their
hands would come together prayer style to their forehead and many of the
students would crouch down, almost to a crawl, to ensure they would be lower
than me. They would race to my desk at the end of class, in order to have the
privilege of carrying my books and chat with me as we walked to the next class
together. The teacher, the giver of knowledge, is second to only Buddha in
terms of respect. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>At first I felt uncomfortable, with my
Aussie egalitarian upbringing, but I soon learned to appreciate the reverence
and importance of honouring those who have walked before you. And even though
the student was considered lower than me, by accepting their form of respect, I
was showing my reverence for them in return. Now when I return to Western
schools and receive abuse from students, I miss my Thai students who understood
the value of education and honouring the worth of all people.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>Becoming a
Better Teacher</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Of course, teaching in Bangkok helped me to
learn how to become a better teacher. I learned how to get my message across in
very simplified non-verbal ways. There is a lot you can communicate with a
song, a drama reenactment and a jump to the floor. I learned how to listen and
understand what others are trying to say when they don't really have the words
to say it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Of course there was the technical side of
things that came with planning lessons for a class of 40 boys where some
students could hold a conversation, yet others could not even say hello.
Organizing and running an English 2 night camp was one of the highlights of my
teaching in Bangkok. To see the delight on the students faces as they
swam,<span> </span>many for the first time, in
the ocean. I'm not sure they enjoyed the English games we played and songs we
sang as much as they did their nighttime private room parties!</span></p>
<h4><b><span>Mai Pen Lai</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I could not write a post about living in
Thailand without writing about Mai Pen Lai or the Thai belief in “No worries.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>It was probably not for many months after I
had left Thailand that I realized just how much this state of being had now
metamorphosed itself into my soul. I began to feel quite shocked at how
stressed those in the Western world around me seemed to be, and how much they
worried about the simplest and smallest of things. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>In Thai culture, there really is no
worries. No matter what is happening in your life, you can always wear a smile,
and you can always be grateful for what you have. There is always someone worse
off then you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>After a return visit in 2006, Craig and I
were toasting to our five-year honeymoon in the streets of Bangkok. Unbeknownst
to us, our plane bound for Sydney where our families eagerly awaited our
arrival, took off over our heads. We discovered our SNAFU later that evening as
Jintina took us to the airport to catch our flight.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>“Mai Pen Lai Caroline. There will be
another plane tomorrow. You spend more time with Thai family now.”</span></i></p>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>I only hope that my students learned as
much from me as I did from my time teaching and living in Bangkok. We still
keep in contact with many of them, and our first port of call whenever we
arrive back to Bangkok is to Wat Saket High School. Although my students are
long gone, my beloved teaching colleagues still welcome Craig and I with open
arms, and together we hunt down old students to catch up over dinner, the
movies, and some ice-cream.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/scan0056.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67731/USA/Its-not-better-or-worse-its-just-different">It's not better or worse, it's just different </a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/58492/Thailand/7-Reasons-to-TEFL-in-Thailand">7 Reasons to TEFL in Thailand</a></p><h4>About the Author </h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Caz Makepeace has been living and
travelling the world since 1997, both solo and as a couple, and now with a
three year old. Her husband, Craig, and her believe life is all about the
memories and so travel to create more of them. Their travel tips, and stories
at <a href="http://www.ytravelblog.com/">y travel blog</a> aim to inspire and
teach others to make their life a story to tell. Come join their <a href="http://fanpage.ytravelblog.com/">fan page</a> and follow them on <a href="http://twitter.com/ytravelblog">twitter</a>.</span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal" />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69155/Thailand/A-Reflection-on-Teaching-in-Thailand-Becoming-a-Better-Teacher
TravelThailandworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69155/Thailand/A-Reflection-on-Teaching-in-Thailand-Becoming-a-Better-Teacher#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69155/Thailand/A-Reflection-on-Teaching-in-Thailand-Becoming-a-Better-TeacherThu, 24 Feb 2011 03:47:00 GMT0Australian Working Holiday 101: Turning Inspiration into Employment<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/dara2.jpg" /></p>
<p>I
was never one of the fortunate kids who travelled the world at a young age, nor was I one of the kids who was taught the value of a dollar. I think for many middle-class American families its spend, spend, spend until you’re in debt, debt, debt.</p><p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>
At the age of 22 I managed to rack up $10,000 of credit card debt before I won the <a href="http://vantastic.worldnomads.com">Van-Tastic Adventures</a> contest. I wasn’t alone either, I had tons of friends who applied for credit cards their Freshman year of college and ended up burying themselves because no one ever reiterated the fact that we’d actually have to pay them back, with<br />
interest!<br />
<br />
After my six-week adventure in Tasmania I would have to come straight home to work and pay off my debt or, I could stay in Australia and work to pay off my debt. The latter seemed far more appealing so, that’s what I did. Most people told me I was absolutely crazy, but I did it anyways.<br />
<br />
I researched working holiday visas for Americans in Australia and found I was able to stay for 12 months upon my arrival. There are a few options depending on where you are from. If you visit the <a href="http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/visa-options.htm">Australian Government’s web site</a> you can decide which working holiday visa suits you.<br />
</span><span><br />
As an American, I applied for visa subclass 462. I answered a few questions, paid a fee of $230 AUD and got my visa electronically via email less than one week later- EASY!<br />
<br />
If you are a national of the Commonwealth, after 12 months, you are eligible for a second year visa if you “fruit pick” or do some kind of “rural farm work.” You must be employed for at least 3 months and complete the work before your first visa expires. One good thing about doing your 3 months in Tasmania is that almost the entire state is considered rural. After you log your hours you can begin the application process for the <a href="http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1263.pdf">second-year visa</a>. </span><span><br />
<br />
My adventure continued. I decided to stay with a friend of mine in Melbourne and begin my job hunt there. My plan was to apply for a job in marketing or public relations since that is what my degree is in.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/dara1.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I applied for about 40+ jobs and was only granted one interview. I posted my resume on several job sites and heard back from next to no one. The one interview I went to, I was told that I was qualified for the position but, they were looking for someone permanent and would not go through the legalities to sponsor me. Foreign sponsorship, these days, is a very long and lengthy process for employers and most<br />
are not willing to jump through the hoops.<br />
<br />
Unless you have a specialized skill such as nursing, construction, etc., it is next to impossible to find a &quot;career&quot; as a foreigner. You will find most, if not all, countries want to hire their nationals to stimulate their economy- with good reason.<br />
<br />
If you are flexible about where you will work, for how much and how often, it is pretty easy to find a hospitality job whether or not you have experience. You can work at restaurants, bars, hotels, or work through companies such as <a href="http://www.octopus.jobs/">Octopus Hospitality and Events</a> </span><span>that staff major festivals or events.
The pay in Australia is quite good because tipping is not expected.<br />
<br />
I got a job as a bartender in the city, at a hotel, and made $20/hour. I worked six days a week and was able to pay off a big chunk of that looming $10,000. I worked there for about 4 months and decided to move on to something new and exciting. I found out about a few different ski hills in Australia's high country that hire tons of young people to work the winter season. Mount Buller, Falls and Mount Hotham are just a few of the major ski resorts that hire instructors, bartenders, servers, front-desk staff, lift operators and housekeepers offering cheap accommodation for its employees.<br />
<br />
I worked at Mt. Buller as a bartender and made $21/hour and had $100 of rent taken out of my paycheck each week. Staff accommodation consisted of two bunk beds per room and about 10 rooms per floor of a building that had anywhere between 2 and 4 floors. If you work directly for the resort you will also usually get a free lift pass to use for the season. If you aren't a pro-skier or snowboarder don't get discouraged. Born in Miami, I went snowboarding once in my life, but I wasn't the only one working on the hill who was a beginner.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/dara3.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Australia doesn't have nice fluffy powder for you to board or ski on, but my experience there was a lot of fun and I met tons of great people. I was also able to save even more money to pay off my debt. If you are an avid snowboarder or skier, or would love to get into it, I highly recommend researching work on a ski hill during the winter season. New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Argentina, USA- all places you can work and play if you are eligible for a working holiday visa. Kiwis, Canadians and Australians are very lucky; they can apply for a working holiday visa in more than 20 countries. Americans aren't so lucky; we only have the option of working in Australia or New Zealand, and I think Singapore. For all kinds of information on jobs overseas, visas and more, visit <a href="http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/">Any Work Anywhere</a></span><span>.</span><span><br />
</span><span><br />
I'll leave you with a few tips that will be a huge help when you're ready to work in Australia. Upon entering the country you will need to apply for a tax file number. Once you are hired your employer will have you fill out paperwork, as would any employer, that includes personal information that will get you paid. If you are living in Australia for 6 months or more I recommend ticking the box that states you are a &quot;resident for tax purposes.&quot; You will get about 29% of your pay taxed, but you will get almost all of it back when you fill out your taxes (so think of it as saving). You can easily file your taxes online with &quot;E-tax.&quot;<br />
<br />
Upon accepting work you will also be asked to choose a superannuation fund or &quot;retirement fund.&quot; Most employers have a company they already use, so don't stress out about finding one. If you work in hospitality or tourism you are likely to have HostPlus. Your employer must match 9% of your earnings to deposit into your super fund.<br />
<br />
If you are leaving the country outside of the tax period you are eligible to &quot;file early.&quot; You can pick up a &quot;tax pack&quot; at
your local tax office or news agency. Unfortunately, you can not file early via the web, so you are required to mail in your tax pack or bring it to your local tax office. Find out more information on filing your taxes early <a href="http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/14747.htm">here</a> if you are permanently leaving Australia.<br />
</span><span><br />
You are also eligible to receive your superannuation upon permanently leaving. You will get taxed about 40%, but I like to think of it as extra, extra savings. <a href="https://applicant.tr.super.ato.gov.au/applicants/default.aspx?pid=1">Find out how</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/dara4.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/66299/Australia/Australia-Working-Holiday-Regrets-What-you-should-have-done-before-leaving-home">Australia Working Holiday Regrets: What you should have done before leaving home</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67114/Worldwide/Working-Holiday-Decisions-Travel-first-then-work">Working Holiday decisions - travel first, then work? </a></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><h4>About the Author</h4><p class="MsoNormal">After winning <a href="http://vantastic.worldnomads.com">Van-tastic Adventures</a>’ Tasmania leg, Dara
decided it was time to pack her bags and begin her epic adventure around the
world. She worked in and around
Melbourne until heading to Thailand to become TEFL certified to be an ESL teacher. Her next journey will be back to Asia and
then Canada. Get a front-row seat to her wild ride on her video travel blog, <a href="http://one-wayticket.com/Dara_Simkin_One-Way_Ticket/One-Way_Ticket.html">One-Way
Ticket</a>.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><h4>About WorldNomads.com</h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with<a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a>, flirt in over 25 languages with our <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a>, have an experience of a lifetime on a <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a> and donate to a <a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Read more <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/OffTheBeatenPath/story/"><span>stories from WorldNomads.com</span></a> and keep travelling safely. </span></p><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span></span></span></p><span> </span><p />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69045/Australia/Australian-Working-Holiday-101-Turning-Inspiration-into-Employment
TravelAustraliaworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69045/Australia/Australian-Working-Holiday-101-Turning-Inspiration-into-Employment#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/69045/Australia/Australian-Working-Holiday-101-Turning-Inspiration-into-EmploymentWed, 23 Feb 2011 21:57:00 GMT1What to Do When No One Wants to Hire Working Holiday Makers<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/brookewh1.jpg" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When it comes to a Working Holiday, the
most important part is simply finding a job.<span> </span>Without it, you may not be able to stay as long as you want
or have the additional money necessary to see the places you had hoped.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The problem here is that some employers <b>don't
like</b> to hire Working Holiday Makers.<span>
</span>Besides the restrictions on how long you can stay with them, there is
also the fact that many a traveler and backpacker before you has given the working
holiday maker a bad name.<span>
</span>How?<span> </span>By providing extremely
short-lived service.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>So, what to do if you hit a roadblock when
it comes to finding a job on a working holiday?<span> </span>Have a look at my list of tips below to help you solve your
problem.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>1. Lower Your Expectations</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Your idea of working abroad might involve
an office environment that is far, far away from customer service.<span> </span>Yes, this is a possibility, but for the
most part you will simply need to lower your expectations and resort to jobs
that you may have thought were a thing of the past.<span> </span>For example, restaurants, cafes and call centers are always
in need of extra hands and tend to be more flexible when it comes to short-term
workers.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>2. Seek Out Working Holiday Targeted
Jobs</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Since working holiday visas are a popular
option for young adults, there are often several companies and job types that
have been targeted towards individuals choosing this option.<span> </span>As an example, the fruit picking
industry has become the perfect opportunity for those wanting short-term work
in Australia.<span> </span>It may not be
glamorous, but the qualifications for it are very low meaning you can work if
you show up.</span></p><h4><b><span>3. Put Yourself Out There</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Rejections aside, there are plenty of job
opportunities for Working Holiday Makers, you just have to look in the right
places and put yourself out there.<span>
</span>In other words, read again points one and two and reassess your
situation.<span> </span>If you're finding that
your CVs aren't getting the response you're looking for, then take a different
approach.<span> </span>Did you think about
asking for the cafe owners themselves so you can have a face-to-face chat?<span> </span>Have you asked fellow Working Holiday
Makers for recommendations and advice?</span></p>
<h4><b><span>4. Assess Your Needs In Relation to Time</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I have met people that took months to find
a job, while others found one in the first week or two.<span> </span>What was the difference?<span> </span>When I asked them about their approach,
the ones that found the jobs quickest were the ones that put themselves out
there without too much discretion to the type of work it involved.<span> </span>Sure, it may have gotten them a job
that wouldn't have been their first choice, but they were on their way to
getting a paycheck way before the others.</span></p>
<h4><b><span>5. Ask Yourself These Questions</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span>You have to think about time
when looking for a job on a working holiday.</span></b><span><span> </span>How much time are you willing to wait
while hunting for your ideal job?<span>
</span>Can you afford it?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span>You have to think about your
goals for being abroad. </span></b><span><span> </span>Are you there to mainly travel, thus meaning any job will do
as long as you get more money?<span> </span>Or,
are you hoping to explore the culture and maybe get career-building work
experience there in the process. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span>You have to think about
where you want to be versus where you should be.</span></b><span><span> </span>There are probably other parts of the
country you can attempt to live and work in, so would it be better to forgo the
city you're in for another with more job prospects?</span></p>
<p align="baseline" class="MsoNormal"><span>Finding a job on a working holiday
shouldn't be too difficult as long as you are prepared and understand where
what you need and what you can get intersect. <span> </span>Happy job hunting!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/brookewh2.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Related Articles:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67114/Worldwide/Working-Holiday-Decisions-Travel-first-then-work">Working Holiday Decisions: Travel first, then work? </a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/66299/Australia/Australia-Working-Holiday-Regrets-What-you-should-have-done-before-leaving-home">Australia Working Holiday Regrets: what you should have done before leaving home</a></p><h4>Have you gone on a working holiday? Share your tips for finding working holiday jobs abroad. </h4><p /><h4><b><span>About the Author</span></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal" /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span></span></b><span><span> </span>Brooke Schoenman is a
world traveler turned Australia expat.<span>
</span>She's done the whole work and holiday thing herself and can definitely
tell you a thing or two about traveling down under.<span> </span>For some travel inspiration, be sure to check out more of
her work at </span><span><a href="http://brookevstheworld.com/"><span>Brooke vs.
the World</span></a> and <a href="http://www.australiablog.com/"><span>WhyGo
Australia</span></a>.</span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps you travelling
safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate
adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel
Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your
journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with
our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime
on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community
development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every
adventurous traveller's journey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/68065/Worldwide/What-to-Do-When-No-One-Wants-to-Hire-Working-Holiday-Makers
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/68065/Worldwide/What-to-Do-When-No-One-Wants-to-Hire-Working-Holiday-Makers#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/68065/Worldwide/What-to-Do-When-No-One-Wants-to-Hire-Working-Holiday-MakersTue, 18 Jan 2011 22:47:00 GMT0A Traveller's Guide to Learning a Second Language<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/languages.jpg" /></p>
<p><b></b></p>
<p>Let’s face it: if you don’t speak the language where you’re traveling then you’re living in a world of your own. Of course you can take in the architecture, observe interactions in the street by interpreting gestures and expressions but you’ll never get to the heart of the experience. Just imagine a backpacker from another continent exploring your hometown with only a guidebook to help them - what chance would they have of understanding the place you live in?</p>
<p>
</p><p>But for many travelers, learning another language is unimaginable; growing up in countries where English is all they see and hear, the prospect of learning another tongue seems as remote as learning to play the violin. Memories of dull French lessons at school haunt the idea and there’s something vaguely embarrassing about learning how to talk all over again like a child.</p>
<p>
</p><p>But picking up a new language can be done fast, for free and great fun. </p>
<p>
</p><p>Linguists argue about the best methods for learning and different styles suit different people - some are happier learning phrases that they can start to use straight away whereas others will feel frustrated unless they can get really get to grips with the grammatical rules that give structure to a language like a skeleton. But there are several tricks and tools that will help anyone learn fast.</p>
<p>
</p><h4><b>Learn 5 Words a Day</b></h4>
<p>
</p><p>No one can teach you another language, they can only help you learn. It’s up to you to have a DIY attitude and take time every day to learn. Buy a little notebook to write new vocabulary in and learn 5-10 new words every day, testing yourself while you’re on the bus or before you go to sleep. Languages are about <i>words</i> more than anything so start now and within a couple of months you’ll know most of the day to day vocabulary that you’re likely to encounter.</p>
<p>
</p><h4><b>Watch Movies</b></h4>
<p>
</p><p>In Portugal young people often have a reasonably good grasp of English whereas across the border in Spain the general level is a lot lower - why? Because in Portugal they watch films and TV from England and the US in the original language with subtitles to help them understand. </p>
<p>
</p><p>Watch movies made in the language you want to learn with English subtitles. Then look up the script on the internet and try to make sense of the dialogue with the help of a good bilingual dictionary. Then watch the move <i>again</i> with the subtitles in the same language you want to learn and see how much you can follow.</p>
<p>
</p><h4><b>Immersion</b></h4>
<p>
</p><p>You can learn a language gradually by putting aside some time each week but you’ll go much faster if you immerse yourself in it. By going to the country of your target language and living with the people there; perhaps by staying with a family or finding a job where you need to communicate, you’ll have no choice but to find ways to express yourself: When you speak, listen, think and eventually dream the language all day and night, you’ll pick it up before you even realize it.<span>-</span></p>
<p>
</p><p>And if you can’t go there just yet then look for a radio station from the country where you want to go and leave it on ALL the time. Read comics in that language (great for dialogue) and make friends there via sites like <a href="http://www.lingozone.com/">Lingo Zone</a> and eventually progress to language exchanges via <a href="http://www.skype.com">Skype</a>.</p>
<p>
</p><p>Learning a new language will revolutionize the way you travel. You’ll make local friends (and not just the hotel manager or waiter), be able to ask questions about culture and tradition, and you’ll finally step out from behind the shield of the camera and guide book to interact with the people you’ve come to see.</p><p>Read more tips from the <a href="http://www.worldnomads.com">WorldNomads.com</a> travel community in <a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/travel-tips/story/64379/Worldwide/Learning-a-Foreign-Language-on-the-Road-Tips-from-Travellers">Learning a Foreign Language on the Road.</a></p><h4>About the Author</h4>
<p>
</p><p>Tom Thumb is the editor of <a href="http://www.roadjunky.com">Road Junky</a><a href="http://www.roadjunky.com/"><span></span></a>, the alternative travel guide. His personal work can be found on <a href="http://www.tomthumb.org">Tom Thumb</a><span><a href="http://tomthumb.org/"></a>. </span>And he’s currently organizing <a href="http://www.roadjunkyretreat.com">a traveler’s retreat</a> in the Sahara Desert Jan 18-22.<a href="http://www.roadjunkyretreat.com/"><span></span></a></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking
for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe
with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span></span></p><h4>Have you learned a second language? What is your best tip for practicing a foreign language?</h4><p class="MsoNormal" /><p />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67843/Worldwide/A-Travellers-Guide-to-Learning-a-Second-Language
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67843/Worldwide/A-Travellers-Guide-to-Learning-a-Second-Language#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67843/Worldwide/A-Travellers-Guide-to-Learning-a-Second-LanguageMon, 10 Jan 2011 01:07:00 GMT1It's not better or worse, it's just different.<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/cultureshock.jpg" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><h4>Starting a new life, in a new country</h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span>The conference room was crowded with
teachers from around the world; Ecuador, Australia, South Africa, UK, Mexico,
Russia, there was not a continent that was not represented. Eagerly, we
attended the orientation, ready to learn all we could to prepare us for
teaching and living in America.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Over 1, 000 international teachers were
recruited by <b><a href="http://vifprogram.com/">VIF - the Visiting
International Faculty program</a></b>. VIF hire teachers from around the globe
to give children in America the opportunity to be exposed to other cultures and
broaden their global perspective.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I was buzzing with the excitement that
comes from starting a new life in a new country once again. There is no greater
feeling that comes from stepping out into the great unknown and learning
something new. I couldn’t wait to experience America, the country I had dreamed
about visiting for many years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The founder, David Young, stood at the
podium in front of us and shared some frightening statistics about American’s
lack of knowledge of the world outside America. He and his brother had studied
and traveled abroad since college. With the awareness of how global education
can positively impact the world, they set out to form this massively successful
company, to start the change within their own country.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>His speech that day is one I have never
forgotten. He shared with us some very simple truths about living and working
in another country, and travelling in general. I hung onto every one of his
words. I had just spent the last 7 years of my life living and travelling the
world, and it was as if his words were coming straight from my own thoughts
about the powerful benefits of travel.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>It wasn’t long before he began to speak of
culture shock, and I started to tune out to information I thought was not
needed. Been there done that. Bah, culture shock? In America? Not going to be a
problem for me, I’d lived in London, Dublin and Bangkok. You want to talk
culture shock, try teaching English to 40 Thai high school boys who can’t
understand a word you’re saying.</span></p><h4>The Culture Shock</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>It wasn’t until a month later, when I was
sitting in my principal’s office with tears streaming down my face sobbing<i>,
“I just don’t understand, why you’ve given me this class. This educational
system is so foreign to me and the kids are soo challenging. How could you do
this to me,”</i> that I knew I was deep in the throes of cultural shock-
educational culture shock.</span></p>
<p>“Let me tell you what you have come here to do, and let me
give you some advice,” were the words that finally brought my
attention back to David’s words of wisdom in that conference hall. Words that
eventually helped to pull me out of my culture shock, and enable me to have a
successful year with those students who initially made me feel so helpless and
inept.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>“You have come here to teach, and to share
with our children your country and culture. You have not come here to change
things. You are going to be teaching in a system that is so different to what
you are used to. You are going to hate it; you won’t understand it and you will
want to fight to change it. Don’t. You can’t and you won’t last long if you
try.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Remember this, It is not better or
worse, it is just different.”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>“It’s not better or worse, just
different. Better or worse, just different. Just different, that’s all. Just
different”</span></i><span> That was my mantra for the next couple
of months after my embarrassing talk with my type A boss. I still feel so bad
for the squirm I put in his seat; yet grateful for the box of chocolates he
left in my mailbox the next day with a note to say how happy he was to have me
in the school.</span></p><h4>...Just Different</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I stopped trying to do what I knew how to
do from my years teaching at home and in other countries. It didn’t matter what
I thought about it, what mattered was that I adapted my style to suit the new one.
And with a lot of trial and error, we got there in the end and had a lot of
fun.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I’m sure David would have been ecstatic to
see my class presenting an exhibition to the school on Australia. When one
person learns to adapt, they can take a child whose reading level in grade 5
was not much higher than grade 2, and have her proudly and with confidence
speak to the visiting children and teachers about Aboriginal Australia.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When you see her face light up with the
understanding that this may be the only time in her life she can feel such
achievement, you realize how important it is to understand the difference you
can make by putting your energy into the things you can change.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>“Not better or worse, just different,”</span></b><span> the traveller’s mantra of adaptation. Without following this, you
fight, you lose, and you go home, tail between your legs with the despair of
knowing that “<i>this travelling life is just not for me.”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>When you learn how to adpat, a desperate
situation becomes a joyful one. Four years later, I still remained at the
school, making a difference to all those challenging children that walked
through my classroom doors.</span></p><h4>Overcoming Fear</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>David had a way of drawing you in with his
words, and his ability to simply help you to understand how you could make your
experience a worthwhile one. He finished off his speech with this question.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>“Put your hands up if the thing you are
most frightened about by being here now is walking into the classroom to teach
in a system you know nothing about?”</span></i><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Over half of the room, raised their hands,
including me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He then asked, <i>“Put your hand up if the thing you fear the
most is driving on the opposite side of the road?”</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>A smattering of people raised their hands
while the rest of us chuckled.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>“Yes,”</span></i><span> he
replied. <i>“You don’t need to be afraid to teach in our foreign classrooms,
you are capable and you will quickly find your way. You should, however, be
afraid to drive on our roads. This is the only thing you should fear, as it’s
the only thing that threatens your life. Just remind me to stay off the roads
when you do drive”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Fear is what grips so many of us and
prevents us from stepping forth into the unknown to live our true dreams and
passions. It is this imagined fear, that tells us we are not capable, or
knowledgeable enough. This is a fear that does not serve; it is this fear that
we need to brush aside.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The only fear we should be paying attention
to is the fear that tells us our lives are in danger- this is the true purpose
of fear, a survival mechanism.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I once heard the definition of fear being –
<b>F</b>alse <b>E</b>vidence <b>A</b>ppearing <b>R</b>eal. Most people react to
fear before the thing they most fear happens. This is because they assume,
based on this false evidence, that the fear is real.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I was ready to assume that I would not be
able to effectively teach in a system I knew nothing about. So I became fearful
of this system. The real evidence, as David suggested, was in contrary to this.
I am a trained and experienced teacher, and I am capable of adapting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>This fear is an illusionary fear, a fear we
create due to our inability to confront it. We can get through these false
evidences appearing real with help from those who have been where we want to go
and with a little of our own courage to push us through.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I’m glad I was able to control the fear
enough to step into that unknown, because in the end I proved David to be
right. I was qualified enough to teach and I was skilled enough to adapt to be
successful with it. I really had nothing to fear in the first place.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>And as for driving on the other side of the
road?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There was this really friendly driver,
during my first week of school. He was waving so enthusiastically at me as I
drove on by him on the double-lane road. I had just made a tight left hand turn
off the exit ramp from the freeway and was making my way to the teacher
development day at a nearby school out in the country. It was early morning and
there were no other cars on the road except him and me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>
”Gee the people around here are so friendly.” I thought to myself as I
indicated to turn into the side street. It was then that my attention was
brought back to reality, and I gave a little yelp as I realized I was making a
right hand turn an Australian right hand turn- across traffic that wasn’t
really oncoming.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>“Ah! So that is what fear looks like, a
friendly wave trying to steer you back to the right side of the road.”</span></p>
<h4>About the Author </h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Caz Makepeace has been living and
travelling the world since 1997, both solo and as a couple, and now with a
three year old. Her husband, Craig, and her believe life is all about the
memories and so travel to create more of them. Their travel tips, and stories
at <a href="http://www.ytravelblog.com/">y travel blog</a> aim to inspire and
teach others to make their life a story to tell. Come join their <a href="http://fanpage.ytravelblog.com/">fan page</a> and follow them on <a href="http://twitter.com/ytravelblog">twitter</a>.</span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel Insurance</span></a></span><span> you can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.</span> </o:p></span></p>
<h4>Have you ever experienced culture shock? Tell us your story. </h4>http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67731/USA/Its-not-better-or-worse-its-just-different
TravelUSAworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67731/USA/Its-not-better-or-worse-its-just-different#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67731/USA/Its-not-better-or-worse-its-just-differentWed, 5 Jan 2011 03:03:00 GMT0Working Holiday Decisions: Travel first, then work?<p><img src="http://aphs.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/7093/iStock_000003286671Small.jpg" /></p>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR"><span></span>A working holiday
is a fantastic way to get in touch with a culture while also giving you
the means to stay in a country for longer. But, do you plan to hit the
job scene immediately, or would it be better
to travel a bit first before settling down?</p>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">This is a pretty
popular topic of debate for those heading overseas to work, or even to
study for that matter. Why? The reason for it is the idea that people
who end up working right away won't end up doing
as much travel as they would otherwise. They may simply leave when the
time is up, head home and then regret not taking advantage of the time
abroad while they had it.</p>
<h4><span>The Problems with Working First</span></h4>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">Going overseas
with the option of working means that individuals don't have to save as
much money. It could help to make travel happen sooner for those with
extremely itchy feet, or for those that are just
wanting to get away from their everyday lives. This option is perfect
for a change of pace, but without proper planning, it could mean that
you don't see as much of the country.</p>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">What I have found
personally is that I often get comfortable with my routine in whatever
city I set-up in. I get a place to live, find some friends to hang out
with, and work and normal life plans may just
get in the way of weekend excursions. <span>
Routine is a sneaky sort of travel thief</span>, making it hard to have
the mindset of heading on a trip without planning in advance. You know
the deal; you have a friend's birthday party on next weekend and the
following there's a good concert to check out.
What's the use in going away for just a day?</p>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">Another problem
with working first is the allocation of travel funds to normal life
funds. In other words, you may have set aside a certain amount of money
for your Australian travels, for example, but during
your working time you could possibly be forced to dip into these funds
if your normal life (rent, going out, etc.) ends up costing more than
normal. It may only be a bit here and there, but it can definitely add
up after a few months and leave you with seriously
less funds to travel after.</p>
<h4><span>The Problems with Traveling First</span></h4>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">I haven't heard
of anybody having this exact issue, but I'm assuming it could happen.
If you travel too long before you stop to work, you could find yourself
in a position without the proper funds to pay
for a place to live, whether that be an apartment or a hostel. If you
don't have anywhere to stay, or money to pay for living in the interim
(before you get a paycheck), it could lead you to heading home before
your intended departure date.</p>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">In addition,
there's the problem with just thinking you have finished with the
country after doing a bit of travel. Perhaps your wanderlust gets the
best of you, and instead of settling down in a city for
some time to work, you just decide to head to a different country.
This isn't a bad thing, really, but there is the idea that you miss out
on some really amazing experiences by not trying your hand at “living”
abroad.</p>
<p class="Default" dir="LTR">Is there a right
or wrong answer to this debate? I don't think so, but what about you?
While everyone's situation is always going to be a bit different,
getting feedback from others helps us to make decisions
suitable to our own needs and wants.</p><p class="Default" dir="LTR"><b></b></p><p class="Default" dir="LTR"><b>Related Articles:</b></p><p class="Default" dir="LTR"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/66299/Australia/Australia-Working-Holiday-Regrets-What-you-should-have-done-before-leaving-home">Australia Working Holiday Regrets: what you should have done before leaving home</a></p><p class="Default" dir="LTR"><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/68065/Worldwide/What-to-Do-When-No-One-Wants-to-Hire-Working-Holiday-Makers">What To Do When No One Wants To Hire Working Holiday Makers</a></p><h4>Share your opinion. Work first, then travel? Or - travel first, then work? </h4>
<h4><span>About the Author
</span><span></span></h4><p class="Default" dir="LTR"><span>Brooke
Schoenman is a world traveler turned Australia expat. She's done the
whole work and holiday thing herself and can definitely tell you a thing
or two about traveling down under. For some travel
inspiration, be sure to check out more of her work at </span><a href="https://mail2.worldnomads.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=ef9ddae84267423eba8d9bec08a4e9e4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fbrookevstheworld.com%2f" target="_blank"><span><span>Brooke
vs. the World</span></span></a><span> and
</span><a href="https://mail2.worldnomads.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=ef9ddae84267423eba8d9bec08a4e9e4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.australiablog.com%2f" target="_blank"><span><span>WhyGo Australia</span></span></a><span>.</span></p><h4><b><span>About </span></b><span><a href="http://worldnomads.com/"><b><span>WorldNomads.com</span></b></a></span><b><span></span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> keeps you travelling
safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate
adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx"><span>Travel
Insurance</span></a></span><span> you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/"><span>travel safety advice</span></a></span><span>. We’ll also help you share your
journey with a </span><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/get-a-free-travel-blog.aspx"><span>free travel blog</span></a></span><span>, flirt in over 25 languages with
our </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/language-guides"><span>free language guides</span></a></span><span>, have an experience of a lifetime
on a </span><span><a href="http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships"><span>travel scholarship</span></a></span><span> and donate to a </span><span><a href="http://footprints.worldnomads.com/"><span>local community
development project</span></a></span><span> through our Footprints program. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.worldnomads.com/"><span>WorldNomads.com</span></a></span><span> - an essential part of every
adventurous traveller's journey.</span></p><p class="Default" dir="LTR" />http://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67114/Worldwide/Working-Holiday-Decisions-Travel-first-then-work
TravelWorldwideworkandholidayhttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67114/Worldwide/Working-Holiday-Decisions-Travel-first-then-work#commentshttp://journals.worldnomads.com/workandholiday/story/67114/Worldwide/Working-Holiday-Decisions-Travel-first-then-workTue, 7 Dec 2010 15:35:00 GMT0